FOXBOROUGH — After Jerod Mayo offered health caveats when explaining the plan for Drake Maye against the Bills, offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt was more direct on Thursday morning.

And that’s part of why this shouldn’t be that difficult of a decision for the Patriots. Don’t play Drake Maye. Rest Christian Gonzalez, who is in the concussion protocol. Ensure the two pillars of this rebuild are ready to go for 2025.

Drake Maye is expected to start Sunday’s season finale, if healthy. But the Patriots just listed Maye on their first injury report of the week.