Patriots' Maye downplays shoulder injury, denies rumor of rift with Vrabel

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye said Wednesday that he needs to improve his decision-making amid the team's disappointing 1-2 start to the season.

Maye, who's already thrown six interceptions in 2026, explained that his shoulder hasn't affected his throwing ability. The 24-year-old passer was listed on the Patriots' Wednesday injury report with a right shoulder injury. However, he was a full participant in practice.

"I don't feel like we're struggling to move the ball," Maye said Wednesday, according to ESPN's Mike Reiss. "I think we're turning the football over, doing things that are preventing us from scoring touchdowns, and that's one of the biggest things for me."

The third-year QB has completed 63.8% of his passes for 585 yards and only one touchdown through three games. Maye has suffered seven turnovers.

The North Carolina product's early-season performance is a far cry from his stellar 2025 campaign. He finished last season as MVP runner-up after throwing 31 touchdowns against eight interceptions.

Maye recently suggested that he doesn't feel any lingering effects from a right shoulder injury that he sustained in the AFC title game last season. He took a pain-killing injection before Super Bowl LX.

"I wouldn't say there is a problem with my shoulder," Maye said after Sunday's loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, according to Reiss. "You're going to get banged up every now and then, but at the same time, a lot of guys are banged up."

Maye also said there are no issues in his working relationship with head coach Mike Vrabel.

"Coach Vrabel's been one of the best football coaches I've had in my life," Maye said. "I've loved playing for him, and it's not going to change."

A potential issue between Maye and Vrabel would stem from the quarterback not being Vrabel's guy, according to WEEI's Greg Hill.

"I had choices as to where I wanted to coach. I wanted to coach here because Drake was the quarterback," Vrabel said Wednesday, according to Reiss.

The Patriots will face the Buffalo Bills (3-0) in a divisional matchup Sunday.