NY Jets: Marcus Maye's injury is a major blow to the defense

The NY Jets' defense has overachieved through the first three weeks of the season, but they're now expected to be without one of their best players, safety Marcus Maye, for up to the next month.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported on Wednesday that the Maye was set to be sidelined for the next 3-4 weeks with an ankle injury that he presumably suffered in Sunday's Week 3 loss to the Denver Broncos.

Maye is one of the best players on the Jets defense and coming off a career year in which he graded out as one of the best safeties in football.

His contract status has been a point of contention this offseason ever since the Jets placed the franchise tag on him after the two sides couldn't agree on an extension.

Nonetheless, Maye's absence will be felt in a big way by a Jets defense that is already without other top safeties.

The NY Jets defense could suffer without Marcus Maye

The Jets already lost their other starting safety, Lamarcus Joyner, for the season after just a handful of snaps played in Week 1. On top of that, they've been without both of their top reserve safeties in Ashtyn Davis and Sharrod Neasman.

Both Davis and Neasman were placed on the injured reserve to start the year leaving the Jets ultra-thin at the position, especially once Joyner went down.

Sheldrick Redwine stepped in for Joyner in Week 1 before getting benched in favor of Adrian Colbert after allowing a 57-yard touchdown to Robby Anderson.

Colbert has started the last two weeks for the Jets, and with Maye out, veteran Jarrod Wilson is the only other safety on the active roster.

The Jets still have Redwine down on their practice squad and he would likely be promoted if either Davis or Neasman wasn't able to return.

Both Davis and Neasman returned to practice this week and are eligible to be activated from IR at any point within the next 21 days. They could return as soon as this week.

Either way, Maye's absence creates a massive hole in a Jets secondary that has overachieved to this point.

It'll be all hands on deck as the Jets look to replace one of their best players.