New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye and Detroit Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson sustained injuries on the same play during the first quarter of Sunday’s international game at Allianz Arena in Munich.
Maye left the field after being sacked on a third-down play by Hutchinson. He walked off under his own power before heading to the locker room with trainers. The National Football League reported that the third-year quarterback finished 3-of-4 passing for 48 yards with an 11-yard scramble.
Tommy DeVito replaced Maye under center for New England. The team initially listed Maye as questionable before ruling him out for the rest of the game with an ankle injury. Seventh-round rookie Behren Morton is the only other quarterback on the Patriots roster behind DeVito.
#DrakeMaye @Patriots Heads to locker room By video, mild right high ankle sprain Caught at end of tackle pic.twitter.com/1unjYI23vL
Maye had guided the Patriots into the red zone on the opening drive. New England settled for a 33-yard field goal after a delay of game penalty set up a third-and-goal from the 13-yard line. Maye had thrown for 18 touchdowns and 11 interceptions through nine games as the Patriots stumbled to a 5-4 record.
Hutchinson sustained his injury immediately after the sack while leaping into the air to celebrate. Fox News said the Lions defensive end landed awkwardly, causing his right knee to buckle before he crumpled to the turf in obvious pain.
Aidan Hutchinson is headed to the locker room after suffering an apparent injury. 📺: FOX/FOX One pic.twitter.com/sQBNE6llQA
Hutchinson entered the game with five sacks for the 6-2 Lions. He previously missed most of the 2024 season after suffering a broken tibia and fibula on his left leg in October against the Dallas Cowboys, and also recorded 14.5 sacks during the 2025 season without missing a single game.
Hutchinson walked off slowly under his own power and was taken into the blue medical tent before heading to the locker room. The New York Times said his status was questionable to return with a knee injury.
Referee Clay Martin’s officiating crew did not throw a penalty flag on the field for the tackle. Social media reaction focused heavily on the mechanics of the hit.
“This is exactly why the hip drop tackle is banned,” Colby Cochran said on the play, as cited by Pro Football Network.
Both Drake Maye and Aidan Hutchinson have gone to the locker room. Sheesh.
Another observer said:
“What was the point of making the hip drop tackle illegal if they’re never even going to call it? Prayers to Drake Maye.”
From @NFLGameDay Morning: The #Lions lost DE Aidan Hutchinson today and likely longer after he suffered a knee injury while celebrating. pic.twitter.com/JmqThwAmrf
BroBible reported that Fox rules analyst Mike Pereira analyzed the sequence and did not view the tackle as illegal under league definitions.
The double injury disrupted both teams early in the matchup, leaving the Lions playing without one of their primary defensive catalysts.
Lions 21, Patriots 3 (half): Frustrating season with injuries continues, this time with Drake Maye (ankle) on 1st drive. Defensive turnovers, which have been hard to come by this year, one of the few highlights since. Lions get ball to start second half. Not looking good for NE.
In addition to losing Maye, the Patriots played without starting right tackle Morgan Moses, who limped off on the team’s second drive after sustaining a knee injury and was replaced by 2026 first-round draft pick Caleb Lomu. New England also entered the contest having seen 42 different players start a game this season, the most in the NFL.
“The Aiden Hutchinson situation is certainly a significant situation to monitor,” GettyAidan Hutchinson Rapoport, on NFL Network, said on NFL Network, comparing the sequence to kicker Bill Gramatica’s 2001 celebration injury.
Mlive reported that the Lions held a 21-3 lead at halftime as Jared Goff guided the Detroit offense following the early exits.
With Hutchinson sidelined, the Lions leaned on D.J. Wonnum and rookie Derrick Moore on the edge.
The #Patriots have ruled out QB Drake Maye with an ankle injury.
Earlier coverage: Patriots and Lions face off at Munich's Allianz Arena
