Jerod Mayo did not rule out the possibility on Monday.
The New England Patriots enter Week 18 of the NFL season in possession of the first overall pick in the upcoming NFL Draft. Despite a loss this week securing that selection, head coach Jerod Mayo said the focus is “100 percent” on beating the Buffalo Bills.
That may be attempted without starting quarterback Drake Maye, however.
“I would say right now, everything is in consideration, and we’ll see how the week goes,” Mayo said Monday morning when asked if Maye will start the season finale.
Maye missed one series of work in the Patriots 40-7 defeat to the Los Angeles Chargers on Saturday after getting his “bell rung” on a hit to his helmet. According to Mayo, it was his current understanding that the quarterback was not in the concussion protocol on Monday.
That hit and injury would also have no impact on whether Maye would play this upcoming week.
“It has nothing to do with that. It has everything to do with — look, it’s the last game of the season and we have to look forward,” Mayo said on WEEI. “It’s a journey. It’s not just about one game. It is trying to be present and win this football game, but it’s a journey and we’ve got to look out the front windshield where we want to go.”
If Maye does not end up playing on Sunday, fellow rookie quarterback Joe Milton could be made active for the first time this season. The 2024 sixth-round draft pick has previously been the emergency quarterback for every game this season and has been praised by the coaching staff for his work in practice on scout team throughout the season.
“It’s absolutely a possibility, but like I said earlier, all things are still under consideration,” Mayo said when asked if Milton could move up the game day roster — a change from week’s past when the coach stood by Jacoby Brissett as the primary backup.
Whatever quarterback is behind center for the Patriots could be playing the Bills backups as Buffalo enters the Week locked into the No. 2 seed in the AFC playoffs. While a loss would again secure the top pick in the draft, a win by New England could see them slide down to fourth overall. They do enter the week locked into a top-five selection no matter the outcome.