At this point in the season, it would be nice if the Patriots were celebrating more wins than losses on the back of their MVP-caliber quarterback, but instead they're doing the exact opposite.
The team is struggling far more than anyone could have imagined, especially Drake Maye, who seems to have regressed to a level that's hard to understand. Many are questioning whether he's injured and looking for someone or something to blame, and we're not getting much from the team to shut down the chatter.
Fortunately, within all the chaos, there are some positives to take away, like A.J. Brown's recovery from an ankle injury, and although that might be the only real good thing to take away from this latest loss, it's still something to look forward to before another brutal game against the Bills on Sunday.
The top stories surrounding Drake Maye and A.J. Brown going into Week 4
Mike Vrabel shuts down injury talk about Drake Maye
While trying to explain Drake Maye's apparent regression, some have speculated that he hasn't fully recovered from the shoulder injury he suffered last postseason.
It has prompted reporters to ask the quarterback and now Mike Vrabel for any clarity on the rumors, neither of whom is willing to put them to bed, which is only making the chatter get louder.
The head coach was asked again on Monday morning whether he was aware of any potential shoulder issue plaguing Maye, and he made it clear he isn't and doesn't believe he's dealing with anything that would affect his performance.
“No, I’m not. I think when you go through an NFL game like that, especially as a quarterback, you get hit. And again, not to my knowledge anything that would have put him on the injury report. Or any sort of treatment. I think every player has normal maintenance and rehab they go through ... so that’s not anything I would even consider.
But as you go through a game, I’m sure you get hit. I’m sure things happen. But I don’t anticipate that being an issue going forward.”
This is somewhat of a clear answer, but also a roundabout way of not directly answering the question in a sure manner. And Maye's response when asked later in the afternoon didn't make it much better.
Drake Maye refuses to elaborate on whether his shoulder is 100%
During his weekly appearance on WEEI's Rich and Ken with Ted Johnson, Maye was asked directly about his shoulder, as they sought answers we didn't get from his post-game response on Sunday, and the quarterback remained a bit evasive.
Q: When you said that you don’t believe there’s a problem with your shoulder, are you saying your right shoulder and throwing arm feel 100% physically the same as they did before the injury with no lingering loss of strength or velocity of range of motion, or is there any difference at all?
A: Yeah, it’s similar question to the way I answered it in the post game. I think we gotta — I don’t think that has anything to do with executing and playing better football and realizing that’s the biggest thing that contributes to winning.
It's being interpreted as a non-answer, and most believe he's likely dealing with an injury we haven't been made aware of yet.
But based on Maye's performance over the last three games, it doesn't look like an aching shoulder is holding him back. He's still making impressive throws; it's more about his decision-making and a lack of confidence.
One would think that if his throwing shoulder were really an issue we'd see that more during the game and on film. That's not the case, but the non-answers don't make it easy to believe the rumors are untrue.
A.J. Brown appears to be making positive progress with his ankle injury
While reporters were at Gillette Stadium on Monday morning to speak with Mike Vrabel about the Patriots' Week 3 loss, wide receiver A.J. Brown, currently on injured reserve with a high ankle sprain, showed up in the locker room without a boot.
It was the first time the media had seen him without a noticeable limp, and now that he might not be wearing a boot, it suggests he is making significant progress in his recovery.
That could be a good sign that he'll return sooner rather than later. As it stands, he cannot get back on the field until Week 6, when the Patriots face the Jets at home. But some reports suggest he might be held out a bit longer to recover fully, pushing his potential return to maybe Week 8 in Miami.
We likely won't know anything definitive until he's eligible to return in a few weeks. But in the meantime, his progress is promising, and we know how much the offense, especially Drake Maye, needs him at this point.
Add us as a preferred source on Google