Drake Maye leaves Patriots-Jets game with concussion

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — A shot to the head sent Drake Maye to the locker room during the first half of Sunday’s game at Gillette Stadium.

The rookie quarterback absorbed a helmet-to-helmet hit from New York Jets linebacker Jamien Sherwood while sliding after an 18-yard scramble. No penalty was called, and Maye played the rest of the drive, which ended in a New England punt.

Between possessions, Maye was evaluated in the sideline medical tent, then exited down the tunnel away from the field. The Patriots announced he had a head injury and was questionable to return.

Jacoby Brissett, who started New England’s first five games before giving way to Maye, took over behind center with 9:06 remaining in the second quarter and the Patriots trailing 13-7. The Patriots went three-and-out on Brissett’s first possession.

Maye later was downgraded to out with a concussion.

“He’ll be out for the remainder of this game,” head coach Jerod Mayo told CBS sideline reporter Aditi Kinkhabwala at halftime. “Just like I told the guys at the beginning of this game, it’s that next-man-up mentality no matter what position you play. So we need Jacoby to take us to the promised land.”

Maye was the Patriots’ leading rusher before his injury, scrambling three times for 46 yards, including a 17-yard touchdown. He completed 3 of 6 passes for 23 yards, with receivers Tyquan Thornton and Kayshon Boutte dropping well-placed throws on Maye’s final drive.

In his first two starts — losses to Houston at home and Jacksonville in London — Maye completed 65.7% of his passes for 519 yards and five touchdowns with two interceptions and a 99.6 passer rating. The No. 3 overall pick elevated the Patriots’ talent-starved offense and showed more mobility than the veteran Brissett, adding 56 rushing yards on eight scrambles against the Texans and Jaguars.

Sixth-round rookie Joe Milton III has been the Patriots’ emergency third-string quarterback in every game this season. Per NFL rules, players with that designation can only play if the starting QB and his backup both suffer injuries.

Maye must clear the NFL’s concussion protocol before he can return to the field, a process that often takes multiple weeks. The Patriots will visit the Tennessee Titans next Sunday in Week 9.

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