After some flashes last season, New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye has been looking better with each start in the very young 2025 NFL season. He looked great last week against the Miami Dolphins, but the Patriots’ second-year signal-caller has struggled a little against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 3.
While there has been no official word from New England, Maye went down late in the second quarter of the Patriots’ Week 3 matchup and hit his head on the turf pretty hard. Could the effects of the hit be affecting Maye?
What Happened to New England Patriots QB Drake Maye?
The NFL has put a bigger emphasis on head trauma injuries, with some harsher hits and scary moments happening on the field over the past few years. That’s why it was a little puzzling when no one looked at the Patriots to address a somewhat concerning sign after quarterback Drake Maye’s head bounced off the turf during a tackle in Week 3.
On a throwaway against the Steelers in Week 3, Pittsburgh linebackers Nick Herbig and T.J. Watt pressured and took down Maye in the backfield just after the Patriots’ quarterback got rid of the ball. On the takedown, however, Maye’s head bounced off the turf, and he immediately grabbed his head with his right hand. Two plays later, he threw a pretty ugly interception in the red zone.
Insane that Drake Maye wasn’t pulled for a #concussion eval after this impact that had him reaching for his head.
Not surprised he threw a bad interception 2 plays later. Changes in cognition, reaction time, vision are most obvious in QB’s. Costly choice pic.twitter.com/lQFZERYNHV— Chris Nowinski, Ph.D. (@ChrisNowinski1) September 21, 2025
Neuroscientist Chris Nowinski pointed out the troubling signing on X, saying, “Insane that Drake Maye wasn’t pulled for a #concussion eval after this impact that had him reaching for his head. Not surprised he threw a bad interception two plays later. Changes in cognition, reaction time, vision are most obvious in QBs. Costly decision.”
The Patriots and fans should monitor the situation as the second half continues. Maye is supposed to be the franchise’s future. If he takes another big hit, the chances of reinjury for a concussion are much higher with every big collision, as the brain has already experienced trauma.
New England must tread lightly in a game where the offense has struggled mightily to protect the football. Maye’s long-term health should be of the utmost importance, and a concussion can be a difficult injury to recover from, depending on the severity.
