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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 due Wednesday even though 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 has been on the injury report since 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 reportedly didn’t throw a soccer ball until he took the field Saturday.
(Left) New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) and wide receiver Kayshon Boutte (9) run off the field after a Patriots touchdown against the Miami Dolphins during the second half at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on Jan. 4, 2026. (Right) Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (14) looks on before the NFC Championship Game of 2026 against the Los Angeles Rams at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington on January 1, 2021. 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 victory. After the game, he split first-team reps with Drew Lock ahead of 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 shooting in practice would be reduced but that his condition 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 suffered the shoulder injury during the Patriots’ 10-7 victory over the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship Game. The 23-year-old appeared to have been injured in the third quarter when he was hit in a scuffle and immediately grabbed his right shoulder.
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Sam Darnold of the Seattle Seahawks walks on the field after the NFC Championship NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, in Seattle. The Seattle Seahawks beat the Los Angeles Rams 31-27.
Maye said after the game that he had some bumps and bruises.
“Some bumps and bruises, but hey, that’s what it takes,” Maye said. “And I think a lot of those guys in that locker room are fighting through things and I think at the same time the best thing about this is that we have another chance to do it. Another chance I have to bounce back.”
Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel said during a press conference Tuesday that Maye isn’t 100% this time of year, but no one is 100% this time of year.
Maye, who was fantastic in the regular season, hasn’t had the same success in the playoffs, despite reaching 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% 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 hasn’t been as effective through the air, completing 55.8% of his passes for 533 yards with four touchdowns and two interceptions while being sacked 15 times.
However, Maye has been dynamic with his legs, rushing for 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.
