Courtesy of the New England Patriots
PALO ALTO- The Patriots shifted their Super Bowl LX preparations to the West Coast, conducting high-intensity sessions at Stanford Stadium in Palo Alto. The most encouraging development for the team is the health of second-year quarterback Drake Maye. Despite a right shoulder injury sustained in the AFC Championship, Maye was a full participant in both Wednesday and Thursday’s practices, taking all first-team reps.
During Wednesday’s 90-minute padded session, Maye appeared fluid and confident while navigating seven-on-seven and full-squad drills, confirming his earlier statements that he is feeling good heading into the matchup against Seattle.
Head coach Mike Vrabel and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels have strategically structured the week to keep the roster mentally sharp. While the core game plan was installed back in Foxborough, McDaniels—now coaching in his tenth Super Bowl with the franchise—suggested holding back specific wrinkles to present as “new” information in California. The goal was to keep a young roster engaged and prevent stagnation.
Vrabel has complemented this mental stimulation with hands-on coaching, at one point getting into a three-point stance himself to refine pass-rush techniques with defensive tackle Cory Durden. The presence of owners Robert and Jonathan Kraft, alongside franchise legend Julian Edelman, provided a veteran backdrop for a squad where only five players have prior Super Bowl experience.
Thursday’s practice focused on situational football and tempo, lasting 75 minutes. The session emphasized red zone efficiency, the two-minute drill, and special teams. To prepare for the roar of the Seattle crowd, Vrabel ordered the music volume cranked up during red zone drills, where Maye reportedly looked sharp. However, the offense faced some adversity during a “sloppy” two-minute drill. Vrabel acknowledged the need for better execution, stressing the importance of regrouping quickly so that individual mistakes do not snowball into larger team failures.
The injury report remains a primary focus as Sunday approaches. While Maye’s full participation is a green light for the offense, the defensive front has some moving parts. Linebacker Robert Spillane showed progress by returning to practice on Thursday as a limited participant after sitting out Wednesday with an ankle injury. Conversely, linebacker Harold Landry’s status is trending downward; he was a non-participant on Thursday after being limited the day prior with a knee issue.
Other notable updates include right tackle Morgan Moses receiving a rest day and defensive tackle Joshua Farmer continuing his return from injured reserve as a full participant. The Patriots are scheduled to wrap up their on-field work on Friday.