The rookie quarterback left the Patriots’ win over the Jets in the second quarter.
The New England Patriots celebrated their second win of the season on Sunday, beating the visiting New York Jets with a final score of 25-22. The victory was an impressive one considering that the team spent most of the afternoon without its starting quarterback.
Making his third career start, rookie quarterback Drake Maye opened the game in solid fashion. However, he absorbed an uncalled helmet-to-helmet hit on a scramble late in the first quarter and eventually had to leave the game.
Maye was ruled out for the remainder of the contest due to a concussion a short time later. This also means that the 22-year-old now finds himself in the NFL’s concussion protocol.
He is not the first Patriot in that position this season; fellow rookie Ja’Lynn Polk, for example, missed Sunday’s game for the same exact reason. However, given Maye’s importance to the organization both in the short and the long term, now is a good time to revisit how the league’s concussion protocol works and what it means for the young QB and his team.
How the NFL concussion protocol works
Head injuries are arguably the biggest concern the NFL and football in general are facing at the moment. The league recognized this, and has implemented several measures over the years in order to increase safety for players. There is still plenty of work to be done, but the introduction of measures such as the concussion protocol has created a more sensible environment compared to 10 or 20 years ago.
As for the protocol itself, it kicks into action when a player is either displaying or self-reporting signs of head injury. Once that happens, the team’s medical staff as well as the league’s unaffiliated neurotrauma consultants — there are three of them assigned to each game — take further steps.
In Maye’s case, that happened four snaps after he absorbed the aforementioned helmet-to-helmet hit. Why he was not removed from the game immediately despite being a bit slow to get up is anybody’s guess, and still one of the shortcomings of the rules in place.
Regardless, Maye was evaluated after the Patriots’ series came to an end. He departed into the blue medical tent, and later retreated to the locker room.
As part of the medical evaluation, the physicians at hand run through a series of tests including checks of the eyes, speech, spine and cognitive abilities. In addition, the play itself will also be reviewed to determine whether or not the player in question will be cleared to return to the game or not. Maye, obviously, was not.
He is therefore now entering the next phase of the protocol, which brings us to our second question
What this means for the Patriots and Drake Maye
After being placed in the concussion protocol on Sunday, Maye will have to be cleared by medical professionals before returning to practice of another game. Both the Patriots’ own staff, led by Dr. Scott Martin, as well as an independent neurological consultant will need to green-light a comeback.
The next step toward that goal will be taken on Monday with a follow-up examination to find out whether the symptoms displayed in-game have worsened. The results of those tests as well as other factors such as the personal history in relation to head injuries will determine further action.
The NFL’s return-to-participation protocol outlines five steps Maye will have to go through, though:
Phase 1: Symptom-limited activity. Maye will be prescribed rest as well as limiting and/or avoiding physical and cognitive activities which increase the risk of aggravating symptoms. Limited stretching and balance training can be introduced under supervision of the athletic training staff, progressing to light aerobic exercise. Maye can attend meetings and film study, if permitted by the medical staff.
Phase 2: Aerobic exercise. In this phase, Maye can begin graduated cardiovascular exercise under supervision of the Patriots’ medical staff. This includes riding on a stationary bike or a treadmill, as well as some stretching and balance training.
Phase 3: Football-specific exercise. Cardiovascular exercises and sport-specific activities are part of this phase. Maye may also do some strength training, all under supervision.
Phase 4: Non-contact training drills. This is basically building on Phases 2 and 3, meaning that Maye will be allowed to continue cardiovascular, strength and balance training while also introducing team-based sports-specific exercise and non-contact football activities.
Phase 5: Full football activity/clearance. At this point, Maye will be fully cleared to resume football activities in including full contact. If both the team’s physician and the independent neurological consultant are in agreement, he will be allowed to participate in the next game or practice.
Despite that clear structure, there is no set timeline when it comes to a player returning from a concussion. As a result, every option — from returning for this week’s contest against the Tennessee Titans to sitting out multiple games — is on the table for Maye and the Patriots right now.