Patriots QB Drake Maye clears protocol and starts against Titans

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye has cleared concussion protocol and will start Sunday's road game against the Tennessee Titans, the team announced Saturday.

Maye entered the protocol in the second quarter of the Patriots' 25-22 win over the New York Jets last Sunday. He participated in limited practice on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday this week.

Maye, the No. 3 pick in the 2024 draft, was named the Patriots' starter in Week 6 after veteran Jacoby Brissett opened the year as the top quarterback. Maye helped jumpstart a previously stagnant offense by going 53 of 84 for 564 yards with five touchdowns and two interceptions. He added 13 carries for 114 yards and a touchdown.

During an 18-yard scramble in the first quarter last week, Maye was about to slip at the end of the run when Jets linebacker Jamien Sherwood's helmet hit the back of Maye's helmet. Maye was slow to recover but stayed in the game for four more plays.

After Maye came to the sideline following a punt, the NFL's independent concussion monitor called for an evaluation of the quarterback, according to coach Jerod Mayo. Brissett took over the rest of the game and helped the team to a comeback victory. Mayo said Maye told him at halftime that he was hoping to return for the second half.

Patriots offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt said Thursday that the Patriots don't want to limit Mayes' yardage, but stressed he's paying attention to him when he takes off.

“You hate to take that away from a player. That’s a strength of his, the ability to get out of the pocket,” Van Pelt said. “The only thing we talked about was safety while sliding. A lot of times you get into space and feel like you're clean and going feet first, which is what we train in open space. But you never know what's coming.” The quarterbacks who often avoid injury will find weakness in this regard by going head first and going to the ground.

“We continue to work on that with him – we understand what happens around us in situations like this. But ultimately in every game we ask him to protect the ball and himself. That goes for every quarterback.”

Against the Titans (1-6), the Patriots (2-6) want to win two games in a row for the first time since October 2022.