Patriots Get Big Drake Maye Injury Update Ahead of Week 9

The New England Patriots finally ended their losing streak last week and earned their second win of the season against the Jets. Now, they have an excellent opportunity to continue building momentum against a very beatable opponent in the Titans in Week 9.

The biggest question for the Patriots heading into the weekend was the availability of Drake Maye. The talented rookie left the Jets game early after getting hit on the helmet. Jacoby Brissett replaced him and helped lead New England to the win.

Having entered the NFL's concussion protocol, whether Maye would get cleared in time was on everyone's mind. It was finally revealed on Saturday afternoon that Maye was indeed cleared and subsequently removed from the Patriots injury report.

NFL News: Drake Maye to Start for the Patriots in Week 9

This is excellent news for the Patriots. Whether they win against the Titans or not is beside the point. The organization needs to get Maye as many reps as possible this season. The No. 3 overall pick has shown gradual improvement from week to week, so not missing any game action will be great for his development.

Understandably, the Patriots have made Maye's development a priority. According to the latest reports, they are looking for upgrades to the offensive line ahead of Tuesday's trade deadline. The Patriots have been ravaged by injuries to key veterans, potentially negatively impacting Maye's performance in his rookie season. Better protection for him going forward could unlock Maye's potential further in the second half of the campaign.

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