Another blow will strike the Jets in the form of their top safety’s availability. Marcus Maye will miss time, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport, who notes an ankle injury will sideline the franchise-tagged safety for multiple weeks (Twitter link).
With a three- to four-week recovery timetable in play for Maye, an IR stay would not surprise. This injury news surfaced despite Maye not missing a snap thus far this season.
This is obviously a key year for Maye, who was one of a few safeties given the franchise tag this past offseason. A better market is expected in 2022, when the salary cap is on track to spike toward nearly $210MM. His long-term future with the Jets remains uncertain, but for the time being, the fifth-year defender will be sidelined. Maye’s agent, who spoke of the veteran’s contentious extension talks this offseason, tweeted his client should be healthy by the trade deadline, which is Nov. 2.
The Jets are already playing without top offensive and defensive talents, with left tackle Mekhi Becton on short-term IR and defensive end Carl Lawson out for the season. Maye’s loss knocks will strip the struggling team of one of its other top performers, creating a steeper uphill battle in Robert Saleh‘s first season.