Drake Maye reacts to his NFL debut in the Patriots’ loss to the Jets originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

It took Drake Maye just three games to play his first snaps as an NFL player.

The New England Patriots rookie quarterback made his professional debut late in the fourth quarter of Thursday night’s Week 3 loss to the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium.

The game was decided when Maye entered the game with 4:24 left and the Patriots trailing 24-3. He completed four of eight pass attempts for 22 yards. He also scrambled outside the pocket a couple of times and picked up 12 rushing yards. Maye was also hit five times and sacked twice.

“I just wanted to get out there, try to do some things and have some fun,” Maye told reporters in the locker room, as seen on NBC Sports Boston. Patriots Postgame Live. “I felt a little nervous when I ran out there. What a night with the crowd and the atmosphere to play my first game.”

How would Maye assess his limited action?

“You can’t take stupid sacks. We’re trying to get the ball out, and you can’t take sacks in that situation,” Maye said. “At the same time, we got some first downs and moved the chains, made some plays with my feet and hit (DeMario Douglas) over the middle. So we got some good things to look at at the same time.”

What was Mayo’s message to Maye before he took the field?

“Just be smart with the football. Don’t do anything stupid,” Maye said. “Just go out there and enjoy it. Try to make some plays.”

Jacoby Brissett started at quarterback for the third time in as many games this season. He completed 12 of 18 passes for 98 yards. Those numbers aren’t great, but on his defense, he barely had time to throw the ball. The offensive line played terribly in this game. Brissett was sacked five times and hit 10 times. There wasn’t much he could do.

Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo was asked during his postgame press conference if he would consider a quarterback change.

“I don’t know,” Mayo said. “We talk about it every week, you’re competing for a job. We get together as a coaching staff and see where it goes.”

The Patriots have a few extra days to prepare for their Week 4 road game against the San Francisco 49ers on September 29. Despite going 0-2 in Week 3, the 49ers have one of the league’s most talented rosters and an elite defense.