Super Bowls are usually defined by preparation, matchups, and momentum. This one, at least for now, is being shaped by something far less predictable.
Health.
With just one week remaining before the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots meet on football’s biggest stage, the injury report has introduced a layer of uncertainty that could quietly decide the game before the opening kickoff.
At the center of that uncertainty is the Patriots’ most valuable asset—and their most fragile variable.
Drake Maye.
The New England quarterback did not participate in Friday’s practice due to a shoulder injury compounded by an illness.
While the illness is not expected to threaten his availability, the shoulder is a different story. In a Super Bowl matchup against an elite Seahawks defense, even a small physical limitation carries oversized consequences.
Maye’s season has been nothing short of extraordinary. He led the NFL in completion percentage, passer rating, and yards per attempt, then carried that efficiency into the postseason with both his arm and legs.
But the same physicality that has made him dangerous—particularly as a runner—also places strain on his body at the worst possible moment.
The Patriots insist there is no panic. A full week remains. Yet the absence from practice alone was enough to shift the conversation.
If Maye’s shoulder limits his throwing velocity or discourages designed runs, New England’s offensive identity changes.
Suddenly, a dynamic, aggressive unit becomes more conservative. And in that scenario, the Patriots’ margin for error shrinks dramatically.
Behind Maye, the depth chart tells its own story. Joshua Dobbs and Tommy DeVito would be next in line—capable professionals, but not quarterbacks built to outduel Seattle in a Super Bowl environment. The drop-off isn’t subtle. It’s structural.
On the other sideline, Seattle is dealing with its own concerns, though of a different nature.
Sam Darnold continues to carry an oblique injury designation, something he has played through since the Divisional Round.
Importantly, it hasn’t stopped him from delivering his best performance of the season in the NFC Championship Game.
That consistency has eased concern within the Seahawks’ organization, and there’s no indication his availability is in jeopardy.
Still, oblique injuries don’t disappear—they linger. And in a game that demands precision, mobility, and endurance, any physical restriction becomes relevant over four quarters.
Drew Lock remains the primary backup, with rookie Jalen Milroe listed as the third option.
The quarterback position isn’t the only area worth monitoring.
Patriots tight end Hunter Henry was limited in practice and received an early questionable tag. While rest appears to be the primary factor, his status matters.
Henry is a central piece in New England’s red-zone offense and a critical safety valve for Maye under pressure. If he’s limited, Austin Hooper could see a larger role—altering route concepts and protection schemes.
Wide receiver Mack Hollins also remains a concern. Activated from injured reserve ahead of the AFC Championship, Hollins is still working back from an abdominal injury.
His limited participation suggests the Patriots are managing him carefully.
Should his workload be restricted, receivers DeMario Douglas and Kyle Williams could be asked to shoulder more responsibility in high-leverage moments.
None of these injuries guarantee absence. That’s what makes them dangerous.
Super Bowls aren’t always won by the healthier roster—but they are often lost by the compromised one. One missed rep. One hesitant throw. One play a quarterback decides not to make.
Seattle waits. New England monitors.
And hovering over everything is the reality that the most important injury in this game belongs to the most important player on the field.
Drake Maye says he’s feeling good. The Patriots say they’re confident.
But the Super Bowl has a way of exposing the smallest cracks—and right now, that shoulder is one the entire football world can’t stop watching.
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