Patriots quarterback Drake Maye removes concussion protocol

The Patriots announced Saturday that quarterback Drake Maye has cleared the concussion protocol and will be available to play Sunday against the Tennessee Titans.

The Patriots initially listed Maye as questionable to play after he was a limited participant in practice all week. But manager Jerod Mayo indicated Friday there’s still a chance Maye could start Sunday. The Patriots only needed clearance from medical professionals.

“Once it comes out of the protocol, I think we feel like it’s been cleared by the medical professionals,” Mayo said. “It will be ready to go.”

Maye entered the protocol after suffering a head injury in the first quarter of last Sunday’s win over the Jets. He stayed on the field to finish that route, but then went onto the sideline into the blue medical tent, visited the locker room and never returned to the field.

The NFL’s concussion protocol is a five-step process. Phase 1 is “symptom-limited activity”, Phase 2 is “aerobic exercise”, Phase 3 is “soccer-specific exercise”, Phase 4 is “club-based non-contact training”, and Phase 5 is “full football activity” or the clearance.

Based on the information Mayo shared and the short training windows open to the media last week, it appeared Maye was in Phase 3 on Wednesday and progressed to Phase 4 on Thursday.

Veteran Jacoby Brissett, who would have started had Maye not cleared the concussion protocol, will now serve as the backup.

Nicole Yang can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her @nicolecyang.