Drake Maye heads to locker room after helmet-to-helmet hit

Patriots quarterback Drake Maye has exited today's game against the Chargers with an apparent head injury.

Maye scrambled, stepped out of bounds and took a helmet-to-helmet hit from Chargers defensive back Cam Hart, and exited the game after that. Hart could have been called for an illegal hit, but the officials did not throw a flag.

On the ensuing drive the Chargers got a spectacular touchdown catch from Derius Davis to give them an early 7-0 lead. After that touchdown, Patriots veteran backup quarterback Jacoby Brissett came in to replace Maye. Officially, the Patriots haven't ruled Maye out for the game, but it appeared that he suffered a concussion.

Maye has had a very promising rookie season since taking the starting job from Brissett, but this is the second time he has been knocked out of a game with a head injury. That has to be a major concern for Maye and the Patriots going forward.

Given that the Patriots are out of contention, and given that Maye is the single most important player to the future of the franchise, it seems very unlikely that they would rush him back onto the field next week. Maye's rookie season is probably over.