Drake Maye says his shoulder ‘feels great’ as Patriots training camp continues

“I think that was a bummer way to end the last game,” he said of New England’s Super Bowl loss to the Seattle Seahawks in which he clearly was not 100 percent healthy.

“You’re feeling healthy,” Adams said.

“Yes, ma’am,” Maye replied.

Maye downplayed the ailment at the time, but he admitted after the Super Bowl he received a pain-killing injection to numb his shoulder. He said he “felt alright” during the game and didn’t attribute his gameday struggles to his injury.

“I was feeling good enough to be out there,” Maye said. “If I’m out there, I wouldn’t put the team in harm’s way to not be myself. Just didn’t make the plays tonight.”

Speaking of that 29-13 Super Bowl loss, the Patriots have not only improved health-wise since that February night. They’ve also massively improved their offensive personnel since then, particularly Maye’s weapons.

The addition of wide receiver A.J. Brown and others replaced Stefon Diggs and then some this offseason. It took a few practices for Maye and Brown to get on the same page, but the connection seems to be progressing as it should.

Head coach Mike Vrabel even chewed out Brown after the first day of camp for failing to secure a catch.

“He expected me to make that play,” Brown said earlier this week (via the Boston Herald‘s Doug Kyed). “Early on, as a rookie, I didn’t really like that too much. But now I know it comes from a great place and he expects me to make that play, and so do I.”

Maye responded to Brown getting “ripped” by Vrabel, saying the player handled it well.

“He’s gonna make plays on the football,” Maye said. “He does a great job of not being too animated about it, and I think that’s what you see in a receiver like him that’s been making plays in this league for years and been one of the top guys in the league. I’m excited to play with him and give him some chances. 

“That’s what coach Vrabel does. He calls out the best players, and he wants to coach the best players the hardest, and A.J. is one of them. A.J. knows that and respects that, and is here for it.”

Maye added he’s confident in his relationship with Brown on the field. He’s well aware of Brown’s track record in the NFL as a player who makes an impact and racks up receiving yards.

Maye said he isn’t the one calling signals, but he’s convinced Brown will live up to the lofty expectations he has on his shoulders in his first year in New England as long as he’s getting targets.

“A guy like A.J., I think you just got to throw him the ball,” Maye said. “You got to give him chances. He can make you throwing the football look good. So just put it in his area and he’ll make plays on it. … (But) that’s not my job. My job is to execute the play, and that’s what [offensive coordinator Josh] McDaniels has done a great job of preaching.”

Brown noted earlier this week he’s about 90 percent familiar with the Patriots’ playbook since being traded on June 1. Maye said Brown has retained the offense well.

“A.J.’s done a great job of learning the schemes, learning the little concepts, and being able to play different spots,” he said.

Maye said there’s a different “aura” to the wide receivers room this season with an uber-established veteran like Brown in there.

“You’re like, ‘Okay, the demeanor in here has changed, and just the competitive spirit,’” Maye said. “The kind of swagger that is just in that room naturally from those guys and … the aura … it’s the nature of it.”

New England’s tough 2026-27 schedule presents a tall task immediately in Week 1 in a Super Bowl LX rematch versus the Seahawks. Perhaps the result will tip in favor of the Patriots this time around with Brown on hand and a healthier Maye.

Kaley Brown

Sports producer

Kaley Brown is a sports producer for Boston.com, where she covers the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox.