FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) 鈥� New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye said he doesn’t plan to have any surgical procedures on his throwing shoulder this offseason, after receiving a pain-relieving injection before their .
鈥淛ust get some time off. Time’s the best healer. Definitely just need time off,鈥� Maye said Tuesday. 鈥淣othing that needs anything to be done. Just some time away and time to get some rest and time away from football.鈥�
The Patriots returned to the team facility to have meetings with the coaching staff and pack up their lockers before .
Despite the long playoff run, Maye said he doesn’t think he put any extra stress on this arm this season.
鈥淚 think it’s a case of having one hit in the AFC championship game that was just kind of unfortunate,鈥� Maye said. 鈥淯nfortunate timing, the two weeks (before the Super Bowl) was great to have off to have a chance to be out there for my guys. You can’t blame things on injuries. Things happen like this all the time in the league. … You can’t (blame) it on one little thing, the shoulder. … I was feeling like I was able to make throws in the game and was myself.”
Maye threw two touchdown passes but was sacked six times, had two interceptions and lost a fumble that Seattle turned into another touchdown in New England鈥檚 29-13 loss.
Campbell tore ligament in knee late in season
Patriots left tackle Will Campbell revealed Tuesday that a torn ligament in his knee sent him to injured reserve for four games late in the regular season.
Campbell had a disastrous performance in the the Super Bowl, giving up a pair of sacks on Maye as the Seahawks sent several blitzes to his side of the line. According to Next Gen Stats, Campbell allowed 14 pressures, the most allowed by any NFL player in a game this season.
鈥淚t obviously wasn鈥檛 100%,鈥� Campbell told reporters. 鈥淚 mean, I don鈥檛 think when you tear a ligament in your knee, it鈥檚 not going to be how it was before, but I was healthy enough to go. I鈥檓 not going to say that it held me back, but it wasn鈥檛 the same as it was before, obviously.”
Campbell was carted off the field in the second half of the Patriots鈥� 26-20 win at Cincinnati in Week 12. That ended the 2025 fourth overall draft pick’s string of 12 straight starts as Maye鈥檚 blindside protector. But he started the season finale and all four playoff games.
He said he understands the criticism he received for his Super Bowl performance.
鈥淚t comes with the job when you don鈥檛 perform,鈥� Campbell said. 鈥淥bviously, I was picked high, paid a lot, so people expect a certain thing, and I expect more myself,鈥� he said. “So, whenever I don鈥檛 perform … obviously it sucks, but it doesn鈥檛 suck for anyone more than it sucks for me.鈥�
Vrabel said he’s confident Campbell will grow from this season and doesn’t plan to move him to another position.
鈥淗e鈥檚 22 years old. He鈥檚 our left tackle. He鈥檒l get better. He鈥檒l get stronger,鈥� Vrabel said. 鈥淲e aren鈥檛 moving Will to guard, center, tight end or anywhere else.鈥�
Maye, who has developed a close friendship with Campbell off the field, said he believes his future is bright.
鈥淭he expectations of a first-round pick, I think he鈥檚 dealt with so much this year,” Maye said. “It鈥檚 going to be great for him in the future. He鈥檚 going to be a great player in this league, he already is a great player in this league. 鈥� I love Will. I look forward to playing with him for a long time.鈥�
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