Drake Maye isn't the same quarterback anymore, and the Patriots' early struggles are starting to explain why

Drake Maye has thrown six interceptions in three games, the most in the NFL, and the Patriots are 1-2 after a 35-6 loss at Jacksonville on Sunday. The third-year quarterback added a fumble and two more picks against the Jaguars, and New England failed to score a touchdown in a loss for the first time in more than two seasons. Coach Mike Vrabel says he does not expect any lingering shoulder issue. Maye says he sees no shoulder problem, but he sidestepped direct questions about it. Buffalo, still unbeaten, is next in the AFC East opener.Is Drake Maye really not the same quarterback this season?The numbers say yes. Through three games, Drake Maye has one touchdown, six interceptions and 585 passing yards. At the same point last year, he had five touchdowns, two interceptions and 785 yards. He ended 2025 with 31 touchdowns and eight interceptions, so he has already thrown three-quarters of that total. His six picks are the most by a Patriots quarterback through three games since Drew Bledsoe threw eight in 1994.The bigger change is how he plays in the pocket. He has forced throws into tight coverage, overthrown receivers and taken nine sacks. He has also admitted that shaking off a bad play has been hard. "I've got to look myself in the mirror and take this as a turning point," he said. In the third quarter, Vrabel held Maye by the shoulders and spoke to him for a long stretch. Vrabel also said he wants Maye to be energetic and that he "can't be a robot here."The supporting cast has thinned too. Stefon Diggs is gone to Washington, and A.J. Brown has missed time since a high ankle sprain in Week 1. He is not expected back before late October. Without a receiver he trusts to get open fast, Maye has leaned on big plays downfield. The ground game has not eased the load. New England ran 26 times for 83 yards in Jacksonville, and the offense has scored just 29 points on 30 drives this season.Is a shoulder injury behind Drake Maye's slow start?Questions about the shoulder surfaced right after the loss, and they remain open. Drake Maye landed hard on his right shoulder against Denver in the AFC Championship Game in January. He then received a pain-relieving injection before Super Bowl LX, according to the Associated Press. He never had surgery, and no specific diagnosis has been made public.Vrabel said, "I don't anticipate that being any issue going forward." Maye said Sunday, "I wouldn't say there's a problem with my shoulder." On Monday, though, he answered three straight questions about how his arm feels by talking about execution. He has not appeared on an injury report this season.An injury would be the simplest explanation, but nothing confirms it, and the bad habits on tape look like decisions and timing. One number captures the slide. Since the start of last season's playoffs, Maye has nine fumbles and 10 interceptions in seven games. No one has reached both marks in a seven-game span since Jameis Winston in 2019.Maye has not yet given the one clean answer that would settle it. The Patriots return to full practice Wednesday.Stay updated with the latest Asian Games 2026 news, check the Asian Games medal tally and complete Asian Games schedule.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.