New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel and quarterback Drake Maye downplayed concern over the latter¡¯s sore right shoulder on Thursday, the first full practice ahead of Super Bowl week.
Maye had been listed as a limited participant on the initial injury report on Wednesday, when the team didn¡¯t practice but was required to release a projected status.
¡°Feel good,¡± Maye said after Thursday¡¯s ?practice, ?the majority of which was closed to media. ¡°Got ?out there, moving around a good bit today. This is the game ?you dream of playing. So, looking forward to getting out there. Can¡¯t wait to play in the Super Bowl.¡±
Maye, who said he threw during practice in the Patriots¡¯ field house, didn¡¯t think he would be limited in Super Bowl LX ?against the Seattle Seahawks in Santa Clara, California, on Feb. 8.
¡°That¡¯s why you spend time; that¡¯s why you have trainers,¡± Maye said. ¡°I think it¡¯s just been one ?of those things where it¡¯s been a long season and sometimes things show up. I¡¯ll do whatever I can ?to feel 100%, and ?I¡¯m sure I¡¯ll get, if not there, as close ?as you can ¡ª 99, or do whatever I can to ?make sure ?I¡¯m throwing and do whatever I can to help the team win.¡±
Maye, 23, landed on his right shoulder during a 13-yard run in the third quarter of New England¡¯s 10-7 win over the Denver Broncos in the AFC title game last Sunday.
Vrabel, who on Tuesday said that basically no players are 100% healthy at this time of the season, was asked of his concern for Maye¡¯s shoulder.
¡°Not much,¡± he said before practice. ¡°I try not to have a whole ?lot ?of concern. I just want to try to prepare the football team and make sure that everybody is ready, ?and we all have a plan.¡±
Maye has started every game this season, steering New England to a 17-3 record, including playoff victories over the Los Angeles Chargers, Houston Texans and Denver.
He led the NFL with a ?72% completion rate and a 113.5 passer rating while throwing for 4,394 yards with 31 touchdown passes and eight interceptions. Maye has four TD passes and two interceptions in the postseason.
With a victory over the Seahawks, Maye will be the youngest quarterback to win a Super Bowl.
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