Drake Maye, quarterback for the New England Patriots, revealed he received a pain-killing injection in his right shoulder before Super Bowl LX. This admission has drawn attention following the Patriots' 29-13 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Maye's performance, marked by turnovers and sacks, has led to questions about the impact of his injury on the game.

Pre-Super Bowl Shoulder Condition
Leading up to Super Bowl LX, Drake Maye was managing an injury to his throwing shoulder.

He originally sustained the injury in the AFC Championship Game when he landed on his shoulder during a scramble late in the third quarter.
Following the injury, Maye was a limited participant in one practice and missed another during Super Bowl week.
However, the Patriots' final injury report listed Maye as a full participant with a right shoulder injury, and he was cleared to play in the Super Bowl.
The Pain-Killing Injection
Just before kickoff on Super Bowl Sunday, Maye received a pain-killing injection in his shoulder.
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He confirmed this postgame to reporters, stating the injection was to help manage the injury.
Despite the injection, Maye did not claim his condition limited his play.
The presence of the injection on the day of the game has become a focal point of discussion.
Super Bowl Performance and Turnovers
Super Bowl LX saw Drake Maye complete 27 of 43 passes for 295 yards, with two touchdowns and two interceptions. The Patriots lost 29-13 to the Seahawks.

Maye was sacked six times and lost one fumble.
One of his interceptions was returned for a touchdown by the Seahawks.
He also threw two touchdown passes in the fourth quarter when the game was largely decided.
Public and Media Reaction
Maye's admission about the injection has sparked considerable discussion among fans and media.
Some view his performance and subsequent admission with concern regarding his health and the team's handling of the situation.
Others defend Maye, pointing to his decision to play and the overall performance of the offensive line as contributing factors to the loss.
Head coach Mike Vrabel defended Maye after the game, stating he refused to use his physical condition as an excuse.
Insights from Game-Week Reports
Reports from Super Bowl week indicated Maye was managing a right shoulder injury, with his status evolving on the official injury reports.
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Maye was initially listed with a shoulder injury and was a limited participant in some early practices.
By the end of the week, he was a full participant, leading to his clearance for the game.
The decision for him to receive an injection on game day itself has raised questions about the severity of the injury.
Source Acknowledgement
The following sources were utilized in compiling this report:
NBC Sports: Provides details on Maye receiving a painkilling injection before the game. https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/drake-maye-received-painkilling-injection-in-shoulder-before-super-bowl-lx
Patriots Wire (USA Today): Offers statistics and past game performances, though specific Super Bowl injury details were limited in the provided excerpt. https://patriotswire-eu.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/patriots/2026/02/05/drake-maye-nfl-super-bowl-injury-update-2-8-2026/88537572007/
Sky Sports: Connects the shoulder injection to Maye's turnovers and the Patriots' loss. https://www.skysports.com/nfl/news/12118/13505312/super-bowl-60-drake-maye-had-shoulder-injection-before-coughing-up-three-turnovers-in-new-england-patriots-loss
Dose.ca: Reports Maye received a painkiller injection but refused to use his condition as an excuse. https://dose.ca/2026/02/09/drake-maye-suffers-serious-injury-during-super-bowl/
Bleacher Report: Highlights Maye's admission and raises questions about the injury's impact. https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25393627-patriots-drake-maye-admits-having-injection-injury-super-bowl-what-does-it-mean
Heavy.com: Details Maye's admission of playing with an injured throwing shoulder and his desire to "redo" the game. https://heavy.com/sports/nfl/new-england-patriots/drake-maye-injury-injection-patriots-super-bowl/
The Times of India: Confirms Maye received a pain-killing injection for his shoulder before Super Bowl LX. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/nfl/news/drake-maye-injury-update-new-england-patriots-star-quarterbacks-shoulder-received-pain-killing-injection-before-super-bowl-lx/articleshow/128107366.cms
ESPN: Reports Maye's admission of receiving an injection for an "ailing shoulder" before the Super Bowl. https://www.espn.com/nfl/story//id/47873928/patriots-maye-had-injection-ailing-shoulder-loss
Pats Pulpit: States Maye received a pain-killing injection for his injured right throwing shoulder before the Super Bowl loss. https://www.patspulpit.com/new-england-patriots-injuries/121839/drake-maye-shoulder-injury-super-bowl
CBS Sports: Mentions Maye managing a right throwing shoulder injury leading up to Super Bowl LX. https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/super-bowl-lx-injury-report-updates-on-drake-mayes-right-shoulder-sam-darnolds-oblique-more/
USA Today (FTW): Discusses Maye's struggles during the Super Bowl and the contributing factors, including offensive line performance. https://ftw-eu.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2026/02/08/what-happened-drake-maye-super-bowl-60-disaster/88583588007/
Boston Herald: Reports Maye's admission of receiving a pain-killing injection for his throwing shoulder to manage an injury. https://www.bostonherald.com/2026/02/09/patriots-drake-maye-makes-admission-about-shoulder-injury-after-super-bowl-loss/
Patriots.com: Provides context from Super Bowl week, mentioning Maye's positive update on his throwing shoulder prior to the game. https://www.patriots.com/news/super-bowl-notebook-updates-on-maye-s-shoulder-spillane-s-ankle-kuhr-scouts-seahawks-rb-kenneth-walker-and-more-as-super-bowl-week-kicks-off
CBS News Boston: Notes Maye was dealing with a shoulder injury ahead of the game and his emotional reaction post-loss. https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/drake-maye-super-bowl-reaction-new-england-patriots/
Sports Illustrated (SI.com): Mentions Maye was listed with a right shoulder injury but as a full participant on the final injury report before the Super Bowl. https://www.si.com/nfl/patriots/onsi/news/new-england-patriots-final-drake-maye-injury-announcement-super-bowl
Boston.com: Briefly states Maye admits he needed a pain-killing shot for a shoulder injury. https://www.boston.com/sports/new-england-patriots/2026/02/09/drake-maye-super-bowl-lx-injury-new-england-patriots-nfl-football/
Sports Illustrated (SI.com) - Betting: Discusses Maye's injury status and potential betting impact for the Super Bowl. https://www.si.com/betting/drake-maye-injury-update-betting-impact-for-seahawks-vs-patriots-in-super-bowl-60
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