FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — New England Patriots rookie Drake Maye remained in the NFL’s concussion protocol Wednesday, limiting his ability to practice for the game Sunday against the Tennessee Titans.

If he can’t play, Jacoby Brissett will start at quarterback.

“(Maye) will throw the ball at times in practice, but he will be limited,” Mayo said Wednesday, when the team was required to release its first injury report since Maye took an unpenalized helmet-to-helmet hit in a victory Sunday against the New York Jets.

“There are people a lot smarter than me as far as clearing people with concussions,” Mayo said. “We’ll lean on our medical professionals – and also the NFL league policy – as far as getting him ready to play.”

A veteran of five NFL teams over nine seasons, Brissett started the first five games of the season, going 1-4 before being replaced by Maye in Week 6. He said he would not approach this week any differently, whether Maye is available or not.

“I always try to prepare like you’re the starter. That doesn’t change,” he said. “You don’t just look up and be in the league for nine years. So I just stick to what I’ve known that has gotten me this far.”

Maye ran for a 17-yard touchdown and scrambled for 18 yards later in the first quarter Sunday, getting hit as he slid. Mayo said Maye was pulled from the game after the NFL’s spotter called down to the team to have him checked out in the medical tent.

At halftime, Maye said he was ready to come back, Mayo said.

“When I spoke to him, he seemed like he was OK. But I’m not an expert in evaluating head injuries,” Mayo said. “The spotter identified it and they know the league and their policy.”

Mayo said Maye would make some throws in practice but be limited to less than 30 minutes — an indication the quarterback is in Phase 3 of the league’s five-step return-to-play protocol.

Maye would still need to be cleared by team doctors, then by an independent neurological consultant before playing.

“I do have confidence that if the league says he’s ready to play, that he will be able to go out there and operate,” Mayo said. “In saying that, I feel very comfortable putting Jacoby in there, as he is a professional and always stays ready as you could see from the last game. Having a veteran quarterback like Jacoby puts us at ease.”

Brissett came off the bench to lead the Patriots to the 25-22 victory over the New York Jets. He completed 15 of 24 passes for 132 yards and twice led New England to go-ahead scores in the fourth quarter.

Although he said he always prepares to play, Brissett said getting awarded a game ball “obviously wasn’t on my bingo card before the game.”

“I can’t say enough about how tough Jacoby is, just mentally and physically, to step in in that situation,” tight end Hunter Henry said. “He’s played a lot of football in this league, and he’s a great player, and to step in in that situation and come up big for us, just especially that last drive was really, really cool to see.”

THE PATRIOTS got a head start on the NFL’s trade season by sending linebacker Josh Uche to the Chiefs more than a week before the league’s deadline?

Will they make more deals before 4 p.m. Tuesday?

Coach Jerod Mayo said he wasn’t sure how active the front office will be, but shared he’s in daily contact with the vice president of player personnel, Eliot Wolf.

The Patriots are reportedly “open for business,” as they continue to stockpile future draft picks and young talent. Over the summer they traded four-time Pro Bowler Matthew Judon to Atlanta for a third-round pick.

Veterans like cornerback Jonathan Jones. and wide receivers Kendrick Bourne and K.J. Osborn have been speculated as trade targets, though Mayo indicated the team will factor in traits like leadership when deciding whom to keep and whom to trade in Year 1 of their rebuild.

“To us it’s always, we’re in the business of bringing good players and keeping our good players. I think you bring up an interesting point as far as, like, the culture guys. And I do think that’s important,” he said. “I also would say I think it’s important with the coaches, as well, to bring in guys that really believe in the culture and where we’re trying to go.

“So definitely, we take those things under consideration.”

Mayo said he does not expect to address next Tuesday’s deadline with players. Earlier this season, when Bourne’s name surfaced publicly during trade talks with San Francisco, Mayo spoke directly with him.

“To me, the guys in there, they understand professional football. And they understand this time of the year,” Mayo said. “I would say, from our perspective as an organization, we’re always trying to get better; whether that’s to bring players in or addition through subtraction. We have to both look in the short term and also in the long term.”