Star Saints Defensive Player Suspended Ahead of Buccaneers Matchup

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers' focus this week is on a primetime Monday Night Football matchup with the visiting Philadelphia Eagles, but that doesn't mean they can't look forward to some positive news that has to do with their matchup the following week against the New Orleans Saints.

As reported by ESPN's Adam Schefter, New Orleans Saints' star S Marcus Maye has been suspended without pay for the team's next three games for violating the NFL's policy on Substances of Abuse - stemming from his DUI arrest from 2021.

Saints safety Marcus Maye has been suspended without pay for the next three games for violating the NFL Policy on Substances of Abuse.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 20, 2023

The loss of Maye will definitely have an impact on the Saints' defense. He provides a veteran presence in the locker room and on the field and has shown the necessary tools to win at whatever costs as evidenced by the scuffle that he got into with Mike Evans in last year's matchup.

Evans and the Bucs have always had one guy to square off against when facing the Saints, but it will be hard for the Saints to have a guy like that on the field with Chauncey Gardner-Johnson no longer on the team and Maye being suspended.

Since joining the Saints, Maye has compiled just 15 tackles (solo & assisted) against the Buccaneers in two seasons and has also failed to force a turnover against Tampa Bay.

Maye will be suspended for games against the Green Bay Packers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and New England Patriots. He will be eligible to return to the field on October 15th against the Houston Texans.

You can follow Caleb on Twitter @chsnole.

Stick with BucsGameday and the Locked On Bucs podcast for more coverage of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers throughout the 2023 season.

Follow BucsGameday on Twitter and Facebook

Add us as a preferred source on Google