Rookie quarterback Drake Maye is out of New England’s game against the New York Jets on Sunday after a hit to the head.
Maye, the third overall selection in last spring’s NFL draft, who was making the third start of his career, was running downfield when Jets defender Jamien Sherwood closed from his right and hit him in the back of the helmet. Maye was immediately taken into a medical tent for an evaluation and labeled questionable to return by the Patriots.
Patriots coach Jerod Mayo told CBS at halftime that Maye would not return and would be replaced by Jacoby Brissett for the rest of the Week 8 matchup. The broadcasters later said on air that Maye had a concussion.
The injury cut short one of the strongest stretches of Maye’s young career. Midway through the opening quarter, and with his pass protection breaking down around him, Maye sprinted out of the pocket for a 17-yard touchdown run.
Then, later in the quarter, Maye threw an on-target pass of 40 yards while on the run, though it was dropped. H finished 3-of-6 passing for 23 yards and rushed for 46 yards on three carries.
After the Patriots’ 25-22 win, Mayo told reporters that he had seen Maye at halftime and “he wanted to go back out there and play, but there’s a protocol that he has to go through.”
The NFL’s return-to-play concussion protocol does not operate on a specific timeline. It involves five phases, which begin with the player going through a period of rest and aerobic exercise before ramping up to noncontact activity and full football drills.
