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The New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks share a common concern heading into the Super Bowl. Both of their star quarterbacks are on the injury report.
The first injury report for both teams was expected Wednesday, although neither team practiced until Thursday, and participation statuses were listed as estimates. Sam Darnold was listed as limited with an oblique injury, while Drake Maye was listed with a right shoulder injury.
Darnold was on the injury report before the Seahawks beat the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC divisional round. He said he felt something in his oblique Thursday before the game and wouldn’t have thrown a football until he took the field Saturday.
(Left) New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) and wide receiver Kayshon Boutte (9) leave the field after a Patriots touchdown against the Miami Dolphins during the second half at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on January 4, 2026. (Right) Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (14) looks on before the 2026 NFC Championship Game against the Los Rams Angeles at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington on January 4. 25, 2026. (David Butler II/Imagn Images; Kevin Ng/Imagn Images)
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Darnold, 28, played well against the 49ers, completing 12 of 17 passes for 124 yards and a touchdown in the team’s 41-6 blowout victory. After the game, he shared first-team reps with Drew Lock leading into the team’s NFC Championship Game against the Los Angeles Rams, according to the ESPN report.
Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald said during the week that his throwing in practice would be reduced but that his condition had improved. Darnold planned to receive a painkiller injection before the game, according to the report.
The injection worked, as Darnold had one of the best games of his career in what was the biggest game of his career. The former USC star completed 25 of 36 passes for 346 yards and three touchdowns in the Seahawks’ thrilling 31-27 victory.
Meanwhile, Maye injured his shoulder during the Patriots’ 10-7 win over the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship Game. The 23-year-old appeared to be injured in the third quarter when he was hit during a scrum and immediately grabbed his right shoulder.
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Sam Darnold of the Seattle Seahawks walks on the field after the NFC NFL Championship football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, in Seattle. The Seattle Seahawks won 31-27 against the Los Angeles Rams.
Maye said after the match that he had some bumps and bruises.
“A few bumps and bruises, but hey, that’s what it takes,” Maye said. “And I think a lot of these guys in this locker room are fighting through challenges and I think at the same time the best thing about it is we have another chance. Another chance I have to be healthy.”
Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel said in a news conference Tuesday that Maye isn’t 100 percent this time of year, but no one is 100 percent this time of year.
Maye, who was fantastic in the regular season, did not have the same success in the postseason, despite appearing in the Super Bowl.
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New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) reacts after the New England Patriots defeated the Denver Broncos in the 2026 AFC Championship Game at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado. January 25, 2026.
In the regular season, the 23-year-old completed 72 percent of his passes for 4,394 yards with 31 touchdowns and eight interceptions, along with 421 rushing yards and two touchdowns. In the playoffs, Maye was not as effective through the air, completing 55.8% of his passes for 533 yards with four touchdowns and two interceptions while getting sacked 15 times.
However, Maye was dynamic with his legs, totaling 141 yards and a touchdown, the only one the Patriots scored in the AFC Championship, in three games.
The Patriots will need Maye to be at his best in the Super Bowl, as the Seahawks defense was the best in the NFL this season, allowing just 17.1 points per game.
