The highly anticipated debut of Drake Maye, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, came quietly on Thursday night during the New England Patriots’ 24-3 loss to the New York Jets.

Maye, a former North Carolina standout, stepped in at quarterback with just over four minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, as the Patriots faced a steep deficit. Taking over for starter Jacoby Brissett, who endured a tough night against a relentless Jets defense, Maye’s first NFL appearance was brief but eventful.

With the score settled and the Patriots down by 21, head coach Jerod Mayo decided it was an opportune moment to give the rookie a taste of the action. “I thought it was a good chance for him to get out there and get some reps with the first team,” Mayo said postgame. “He moved the ball; we’ll review the film and evaluate his performance.”

Maye completed 4 of 8 passes for 22 yards and rushed for 12 yards on two scrambles, but was under constant pressure from the Jets’ defensive front. On his opening play, Maye threw an incompletion, and just two plays later, he was slammed to the turf on a short scramble. Despite showing flashes of poise, Maye was sacked twice and faced heavy pressure throughout his brief appearance. His final drive saw the Patriots advance to the Jets’ 7-yard line before he was taken down for the last time, ending the game without another opportunity to reach the end zone.

While his debut was far from the fanfare expected for a top pick, Maye’s brief showing offered a glimpse of what’s to come as he navigated his first NFL snaps in a tough loss.