Patriots QB Drake Maye remains in the NFL's concussion protocol. His status for Sunday is uncertain

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Patriots rookie Drake Maye remained in the NFL’s concussion protocol on Wednesday, limiting his ability to practice for New England’s game against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday. If he can't play, Jacoby Brissett will start at quarterback.

“(Maye) will throw the ball at times in practice, but he will be limited,” Mayo said Wednesday, when the team was required to release its first injury report since Maye took an unpenalized helmet-to-helmet hit in a victory last weekend over the New York Jets.

“There are people a lot smarter than me, as far as clearing people with concussions,” Mayo told reporters. “We’ll lean on our medical professionals — and also the NFL league policy — as far as getting him ready to play.”

A veteran of five NFL teams over nine seasons, Brissett started the first five games of the season, going 1-4 before he was replaced by Maye in Week 6. He said he would not approach this week any differently, whether Maye is available or not.

“I always try to prepare like you’re the starter. That doesn’t change," he said. “You don’t just look up and be in the league for nine years. So, I just stick to what I’ve known that has gotten me this far.”

Maye ran for a 17-yard touchdown last Sunday and scrambled for 18 yards later in the first quarter, getting hit as he slid. Mayo said the quarterback was pulled from the game after the NFL's spotter called down to the team to have him checked out in the medical tent.

At halftime, Maye said he was ready to come back, Mayo said.

“When I spoke to him, he seemed like he was OK. But I’m not an expert in evaluating head injuries,” the coach said. “The spotter identified it and they know the league and their policy.”

Mayo said Maye would make some throws in practice but be limited to less than 30 minutes — an indication that the No. 3 overall draft pick is in Phase 3 of the league's five-step return-to-play protocol. He would still need to be cleared by team doctors and then by an independent neurological consultant before he can play.

“I do have confidence that if the league says he’s ready to play, that he will be able to go out there and operate,” Mayo said. “In saying that, I feel very comfortable putting Jacoby in there, as he is a professional and always stays ready as you could see from the last game. Having a veteran quarterback like Jacoby puts us at ease.”

Brissett came off the bench to lead the Patriots to the 25-22 victory over the Jets. He completed 15 of 24 passes for 132 yards and twice led New England to go-ahead scores in the fourth quarter.

Although he said he always prepares to play, Brissett said, getting awarded a game ball “obviously wasn’t on my bingo card before the game.”

“I can’t say enough about how tough Jacoby is, just mentally and physically, to step in in that situation,” tight end Hunter Henry said. “He’s played a lot of football in this league, and he’s a great player, and to step in in that situation and come up big for us, just especially that last drive was really, really cool to see.”

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New England Patriots quarterback Jacoby Brissett, right, passes to running back Rhamondre Stevenson, left, in the second half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

New England Patriots quarterback Jacoby Brissett (7) celebrates after Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson ran for a touchdown in the second half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) runs into the end zone for a touchdown in front of New York Jets linebacker Chazz Surratt (55) in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye celebrates after running for a touchdown in the first half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye passes the ball in the first half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

WAILUKU, Hawaii (AP) — A shark bit a Maui surfer Friday and severed his leg, authorities said.

The man, 61, was surfing off Waiehu Beach Park Friday morning when a shark bit him. Police officers who arrived to the scene first tried to control the bleeding with tourniquets. His right leg was “completely severed just below the knee,” Maui County said in a news release.

The man was alert while being treated on shore and then taken to Maui Memorial Medical Center in critical condition.

The man said he did not see the shark approach, authorities reported.

The incident prompted officials to close the beach park. Officials warned people to stay out of the water in the area. The public warning to stay out of the water for a mile in each direction of the incident will be in effect until at least noon Saturday. The warning will be extended if there is a shark sighting in the area.

Maui fire and ocean safety officials were patrolling the waters using rescue watercraft and a drone. State officials provided shark warning signs and helped with cordoning off the area.

There were no details provided on what kind of shark was involved.

In June, well-known surfer Tamayo Perry was killed in a shark attack while surfing off Oahu's North Shore.

FILE - A surfer walks out of the ocean on Oahu's North Shore near Haleiwa, Hawaii, March 31, 2020. (AP Photo/Caleb Jones, File)