New England Patriots rookie quarterback Drake Maye left Saturday’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers early in the first quarter with a head injury but returned in the second frame.

Maye was hurt on a third-down play in which he was running the ball along the sideline and didn’t slide. Chargers cornerback Cam Hart blasted Maye with a hard hit, and the QB was knocked to the turf and had help getting up.

Maye, 22, went into the sideline medical test to be evaluated and a short time later, he walked to the locker room for further tests. He later returned to the bench area.

The Patriots initially said he was questionable to return, but head coach Jerod Mayo said in an in-game interview that Maye had been cleared to return.

Veteran Jacoby Brissett took the field with 3:21 left in the opening period for New England’s second drive.

Maye was the third overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft. He entered the day with 2,159 yards, 14 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in 11 games (10 starts).

The Patriots lost standout cornerback Christian Gonzalez to a second-quarter concussion.

Gonzalez was hurt when he attempted to tackle Chargers receiver Ladd McConkey with 13:26 left in the quarter and his helmet slammed into McConkey’s hip. Gonzalez was ruled out late in the quarter.

–Field Level Media