The status of the right (throwing) shoulder for New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye has been the main storyline for the team leading up to Sunday's Super Bowl matchup with the Seattle Seahawks.
Maye appeared to take a concerning hit for his shoulder during the second half of the Patriots' 10-7 win over the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship Game. He threw for just 86 yards in the snow contest.
Maye provided an update on his shoulder during a news conference on Monday night. However, he let slip another issue the Patriots are dealing with as they prepare to play Seattle.
Some players for New England have been battling illness as they prepare for the Super Bowl.
"I'll be just fine," Maye said, via the Patriots. "I think I turned a corner landing on the flight, felt good from the flight, and throwing out there today. I really had no doubt in being 100 percent for the game. It's the Super Bowl. You get two weeks to prepare for it.
"Do whatever you have to do to get it right and I've got confidence and feel good. I threw a good bit [on Monday]. I threw as much as I would in a practice and it felt great... It's cold out there. Some sickness was going around the locker room, but I'm really feeling good."
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Per the Patriots, "many players" on the team have fought through illnesses this winter. Last week, Maye was placed on the injury report for having an illness.
Per the Patriots injury report released on Wednesday, the team does not have a player designated with an illness.
During his news conference on Wednesday, Vrabel told reporters the next 48 hours would be critical for the team to prepare for the Seahawks.
"I think that these guys were able to work on Monday, have yesterday off," Vrabel said. "There was a lot of activity around the hotel, the meeting rooms, and guys are getting together and watching tape.
"I think that's what everybody has to do to make sure that they're ready. I think the next 48 hours will be critical for us, as we kind of get back into our normal routine here of a Wednesday and Thursday, and then the families come in and things just start to ramp up."
The Patriots will hope whatever illness was going around the locker room last week was contained to Massachusetts.
It could take a few days for symptoms to appear, and it remains to be seen if the team will have to add more players to the injury report for an illness.