NY Jets: Marcus Maye's Achilles injury could be devastating for him

Talk about adding insult to injury. The NY Jets didn't only just lose 45-30 to the Indianapolis Colts on Thursday Night Football, but they also might have lost standout safety Marcus Maye for the season.

Maye exited with a non-contact injury in the second half with what was first described as a calf injury. After the game, head coach Robert Saleh gave an update on his status, and the initial prognosis was not good.

Saleh said that Maye had suffered an Achilles injury and that it "did not look good." While there is no update at the time of writing, the team reportedly fears that Maye tore his Achilles.

And after watching the video back, it's pretty easy to come to that conclusion. It's very likely that's the case.

Marcus Maye injury is brutal for both the NY Jets and Maye himself

A second-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, Maye is the longest-tenured player on the Jets roster and someone who has developed into a team leader over the years.

His best season came in 2020 when he finished ranked as a top-five safety by Pro Football Focus, even receiving All-Pro votes at the end of the season.

Maye's breakout campaign came in a contract year and he was hoping to receive a new extension in the offseason. Unfortunately, the two sides never reached an agreement and Maye would end up playing the 2021 season on the franchise tag — much to his chagrin.

Trade rumors surrounded Maye at the deadline with the Jets reportedly open to moving him. However, his sizable salary ultimately proved to be an obstacle.

Maye will enter the offseason again looking for a new extension, although this injury could very well tank his market value. That's why this is so devastating for Maye.

This right here is why players look for long-term security. One injury could be the difference between a player receiving their long-term payday and never receiving what they're worth.

The fear is that this might be the case with Marcus Maye.

It's hard to imagine the Jets trying too hard to bring Maye back in the offseason given how the two sides have been on the outs for so long. Even if Maye's asking price comes down, it just doesn't seem like a move the Jets will want to make.

That remains to be seen, of course. But this injury couldn't come at a worse time for Maye.

It's just another reminder of the harsh reality that is the NFL. Sometimes this league and this sport can be cruel.