New England Patriots rookie quarterback Drake Maye’s standing for Sunday’s Week 9 recreation towards the Tennessee Titans stays unsure after he suffered a concussion in last week’s win over the New York Jets and needed to go away within the second quarter.
The excellent news for Maye is that he returned to practice in a limited capacity Wednesday. However he nonetheless must undergo the NFL’s concussion protocol earlier than he could be cleared for recreation motion.
What’s that course of like? Former Patriots quarterback Brian Hoyer shared his expertise with concussions throughout Wednesday night time’s version of The Gameplan on NBC Sports activities Boston.
“It is a case by case foundation,” Hoyer stated. “I feel each, every of my concussions was completely different, and every means I responded in these instances was completely different. So I feel the truth that he is on the market — I do know Jerod stated he is gonna throw for about half-hour. That is a superb signal as a result of meaning he is at, I feel, Part 3 in that protocol.
“It’s a fairly exhaustive protocol, and it is there to sort of shield you from your self, as a result of there’s instances the place you are gonna say, ‘You understand, I really feel fairly good.’ However you’ve got gotta undergo these completely different phases. And so Part 3 football-specific train, that is gonna be permitting him to throw the soccer. Clearly, the quarterback place is slightly bit higher since you need not go on the market and make contact with anyone anyhow (in observe).”
One of many final steps to being cleared to play is assembly with an impartial medical skilled and going by way of quite a lot of checks.
“There’s ones the place you gotta go like this, shut your eyes, be sure you do not transfer, stand up on one leg,” Hoyer stated. “And this isn’t solely with the workforce employees however with this impartial neuropsychologist. You are assembly with lots of people, and on high of that and someplace in there you are gonna need to — there is a baseline check on a pc that you simply take, you are gonna need to get at the very least that base, if not higher.”
Hoyer additionally defined the significance of not going again on the sphere till you are totally prepared.
“You’ve got gotta shield your self as a result of there’s instances once you’re gonna really feel good, but additionally you wanna get again on the market. One factor that I discovered in Houston was, the worst factor you will get is concussions in back-to-back weeks, as a result of these begin to actually construct up,” Hoyer stated.
“Like (head coach) Jerod (Mayo) stated, they’re gonna lean on the league, they’re gonna do what’s greatest for (Maye) and mainly go away it as much as the professionals in the long run, which is sweet as a result of it is sort of out of your fingers.”
Maye is not afraid to flee the pocket and run with the soccer. It is considered one of his strengths, evidenced by his 17-yard landing run towards the Jets earlier than he suffered the concussion. He is a really athletic quarterback, and that mobility causes issues for opposing defenses.
With that stated, every time Maye is able to play once more, whether or not that is Sunday or someday later within the season, does he have to play in a different way to keep away from taking arduous hits? Do the Patriots want to make use of him in a different way?
“He was attempting to guard himself, he was sliding. It ought to have been a penalty,” Hoyer stated. “I feel when you’ve got any hesitation about limiting him and saying, hey Drake, possibly do not run as a lot — you may’t inform a participant to go on the market and play that means. So when you’ve got any inclination to say, hey, it’s essential to play in a different way, then it isn’t time for him to return on the market.”
The Patriots will begin Jacoby Brissett if Maye is not able to play Sunday in Tennessee. Brissett began the primary 5 video games of the season, and he helped lead the Patriots to a comeback win towards the Jets final week after Maye exited. Rookie quarterback Joe Milton could be the backup if Brissett begins.
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