METAIRIE, La. (BRPROUD) — New Orleans Saints starting safety Marcus Maye was suspended for the next three games by the NFL for violating the league’s policy on substances of abuse Monday, stemming from a February 2021 arrest in Florida.
Maye started both games this season for New Orleans, tallying 13 tackles, one sack, and one interception. Maye also played in 10 games last season with the Saints.
The Saints have prepared for this during the offseason knowing a Maye suspension was possible. The Saints drafted Jordan Howden in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft. The Saints also have JT Gray, Lonnie Johnson Jr., and Ugo Amadi on the roster at safety.
New Orleans doesn’t believe there will be a drop off with the secondary Sunday when they face a Packers offense that leads the league in redzone efficacy and is led by quarterback Jordan Love who has thrown six touchdowns and zero interceptions through two games.
“Obviously, we’re going to miss Marcus, you know, a bunch in these next three weeks,” Tyrann Mathieu, Saints safety, said. “But then we got some guys to step up and fill in. I mean, I’m pretty sure the coaches were prepared for it. I think us as players, you always just try to get the most out of each week. Obviously, just you know his lockers right here. You know, we talk all the time. So I kind of knew it was coming. You know, at some point you just you just never know when, you know when with the NFL.”
Maye is eligible to return to the team following the Saints week five game at the Patriots and will be eligible to play week six at Houston. The Saints also signed defensive back Cameron Dantzler, a Saint Thomas Aquinas product to the practice squad Wednesday, another piece of added depth in the secondary.
