#Marcus Maye emerges as rare Jets positive in Week 1

“#Marcus Maye emerges as rare Jets positive in Week 1”

September 14, 2020 | 12:56am

ORCHARD PARK — Jets safety Marcus Maye showed he is up for the challenge of replacing Jamal Adams in Sunday’s 27-17 loss to the Bills.

Maye was one of the few positives for the Jets to take away from their season opener. He had 10 tackles, two sacks, two quarterback hits, two tackles for loss, two passes defensed and one forced fumble.

The Jets have asked Maye to play close to the line of scrimmage this year, taking over the role Adams occupied last year. Maye missed a few other sacks of Bills quarterback Josh Allen, but overall he looked comfortable in his new role.

“I missed a couple of plays that I should have made, but I’m just out there playing football,” Maye said. “No matter what spot you are on the field, you’ve got to learn and adapt. That’s just what I’ve been trying to do. I’ve got to continue to make plays and lead the guys.”

Maye dealt with calf and ankle injuries this past week and missed practice on Thursday, but his status was never in doubt.

Marcus Maye brings down Josh Allen during Week 1.Getty Images

“I was playing no matter what,” Maye said.

When the Jets traded Adams, it left a void in their defense, but Maye looked capable of filling that Sunday.

“You can put me anywhere on the field and I’m going to go out and play hard,” Maye said. “Just being in that role now is something I look forward to and something I’m taking on.”

CB Pierre Desir had a brutal Jets debut. Desir committed two penalties and gave up a touchdown before being benched midway through the second quarter. This is not what the Jets envisioned when they signed Desir to a one-year, $3.5 million contract this offseason.

Desir committed holding in the end zone on a third down that extended one Bills drive. He added a pass interference penalty. Then, he lined up about 10 yards off of Bills receiver John Brown, who took advantage of the cushion and scored a 17-yard touchdown. That was all the coaches needed to see. Nate Hairston replaced him.

LB Blake Cashman left the game in the first quarter with a groin injury. Harvey Langi replaced him. … Second-year DL Quinnen Williams had three tackles, one quarterback hit and two penalties. Williams jumped offside on third-and-4, giving the Bills life when the they should have been off the field. … The Jets have lost four of their last five openers.