FOXBORO — The Patriots anticipated quarterback Drake Maye making rookie mistakes when they thrust him into the starting role in Week 6, so it has not come as a major surprise to see him turn the ball over 11 times in six games.

But not all turnovers are equal. In Sunday’s 34-15 loss to the Dolphins, one of Maye’s turnovers came when he was strip-sacked trying to evade pressure while down 24-0. In an ideal world, Maye wouldn’t fumble. But there was also more value in trying to make a play in that situation than to just sit down, take the sack and accept the team’s losing fate.

Maye was asked Tuesday if he’s confident that he can avoid turnovers in situations when he’s not making a play while trailing.

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He began his answer by reiterating a statement he said Monday on WEEI that he’s “not too worried about turnovers.”

“Obviously (not) putting the ball in harm’s way is a big emphasis for a football team, as a quarterback,” Maye continued. “I think when you’re trying to fight back and try to win the game, make some plays, some of them happen. But I do think — backing my statement — I just said I’m not worried about it. I am worried about turning the football over. That’s a problem. At the end of the day, you can’t turn the football over and especially I think we’re losing the turnover margin in most of the games with me back there. So, that’s something I need to improve on.”

Maye is tied for sixth in the NFL with 11 turnovers. He’s lost four fumbles and had thrown 11 interceptions. He ranks third among qualified quarterbacks with a 4.6% turnover-worthy play rate, which is a PFF metric. Since taking over the starting role in Week 6, he leads quarterbacks with 14 turnover-worthy plays.

The third-overall pick has seen his rushing totals drop over the last three weeks. He set a career-high in Week 9 with eight scrambles for 95 yards. He’s scrambled just 12 times for 77 yards over the last three weeks.

He hasn’t noticed defenses taking that element away from his game.

“I think just kind of based on the gameplan and certain down and distances, we’re fighting against the chains and backed up. It’s a little harder to kind of — defenses are sitting back in some zone and little things like that. Just trying to take advantage of when the opportunities do come but not really trying to hunt it up. Just trying to take care of my body at the same time when they are there I’m still not afraid to go make a play.”

Maye also said he would welcome some designed runs into the Patriots’ offense. Head coach Jerod Mayo said weeks ago that the Patriots weren’t in a hurry to install those plays into the offensive gameplan.

“I think there’s a time and place for it. I think third-and-short yardage or down in the red zone or goal line or maybe a QB draw, something like that. I think there’s definitely a place for that if you can keep defenders or defenses on their toes with mixing it up and just have to do my part of getting down once I do get the yardage. Definitely think there’s a time and place for it, but at the same time getting the ball in Mondre (Rhamondre Stevenson) and AG (Antonio Gibson) and (JaMycal) Hasty’s hands is better than mine.”