Drake Maye was limited at Wednesday’s practice due to a new injury to his right hand, according to the Patriots.
With New England in line to land the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft if they lose to Buffalo on Sunday, there’s been plenty of speculation about how they’ll play things. On Wednesday morning, Jerod Mayo said Maye was the starter, but added the caveat that he’ll play if he’s “healthy and ready to go.”
Immediately after Mayo’s press conference, Maye said he was indeed healthy and didn’t believe there was any reason he wouldn’t play.
“I feel great,” Maye said. “I woke up feeling good, thank the good Lord. It’s another day to get out here, and I’m looking forward to getting out there Sunday.
“I think I’m going to be the starter, so I’m looking forward to being out there. I’m ready to go out there and win and compete in a close game. I want to be out there. You get experiences in these close games that you can’t replicate in practice. You can’t get those reps anywhere else. So, looking forward to getting one more chance at these guys and end off on a good note.”
If Maye isn’t under center on Sunday, Joe Milton III could see his first action of the season. Speaking to MassLive’s Mark Daniels, Milton said it was business as usual for him.
“I approach the week just like every other week. It’s another game week. Another opportunity. It’s a new week—a new blessing. We’ve got a new year started today. I feel great,” Milton told Daniels. “No matter what, I’m always down to compete. My high school coach always told me, competition creates extension, so I feel like no matter what, as long as you compete, at the end of the day, you always win. If my name gets called, go out there and compete.
“Whatever happens, happens,” Milton said. “Whenever my name gets called, it gets called.”
The Patriots had four players absent at Wednesday’s session: Christian Gonzalez and Ben Brown are both still in the concussion protocol, Kayshon Boutte is battling an illness, and Ja’Lynn Polk is dealing with a new shoulder injury.
Here’s the full injury report for the Patriots and Bills:
PATRIOTS
DID NOT PARTICIPATE
WR Kayshon Boutte, Illness
C Ben Brown, Concussion
CB Christian Gonzalez, Concussion
WR Ja’Lynn Polk, Shoulder
LIMITED PARTICIPATION
S Kyle Dugger, Ankle/Quadricep
TE Hunter Henry, Foot
LB Anfernee Jennings, Knee
LB Titus Leo, Ankle
QB Drake Maye, Right Hand
S Jabrill Peppers, Hamstring
S Brenden Schooler, Abdomen
LB Sione Takitaki, Knee
LB Jahlani Tavai, Groin
OT Caedan Wallace, Ankle
FULL PARTICIPATION
LB Curtis Jacobs, Concussion
BILLS
DID NOT PARTICIPATE
LB Terrel Bernard, Quad
LIMITED PARTICIPATION
S Damar Hamlin, Rib
DB Cam Lewis, Shoulder
S Taylor Rapp, Neck
WR Curtis Samuel, Rib
FULL PARTICIPATION
QB Josh Allen, Right Elbow / Right Shoulder
T Spencer Brown, Neck
DT DeWayne Carter, Wrist
CB Rasul Douglas, Knee
TE Dalton Kincaid, Knee
P Sam Martin, Back
LB Matt Milano, Biceps / Groin
TE Quintin Morris, Shoulder / Groin
DT Jordan Phillips, Back
DE Dawuane Smoot, Wrist
LB Dorian Williams, Elbow
