FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — New England Patriots coach Jerod Mayo said Friday that Jacoby Brissett is still the team’s starting quarterback, praising his toughness despite a series of defensive struggles during Thursday’s 24-3 loss to the New York Jets.

Mayo’s statement came a day after he brought rookie Drake Maye, the No. 3 overall pick in the draft, into the game late in the fourth quarter so he could see his first regular-season start.

“Jacoby is our quarterback until I say he’s not,” Mayo said Friday morning. “I thought he showed a lot of toughness and grit.”

Brissett, who finished 12 of 18 for 98 yards, was sacked five times and in-game statisticians recorded him being hit 15 times as the Jets switched to a blitz-heavy approach to exploit the Patriots’ short-handed offensive line. Through the first three games, he is 42 of 69 for 368 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions. The Patriots are 1-2.

Immediately following Thursday’s game, Mayo shared his coaching philosophy that every player is always fighting for his job, and said he planned to meet with the coaching staff to discuss the team’s quarterback plans.

That also goes for offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt, who told reporters Friday that he thinks Maye would benefit more from remaining Brissett’s replacement for now.

“I still think it’s a matter of looking at it. I think there’s a lot to learn, and I’m committed to that,” Van Pelt said, adding that he’s encouraged about Maye’s future. “Jacoby’s our starter, like Coach said, until that changes, I think we’ve got to do everything we can to get the starter ready to win a game on (Sept. 29 in San Francisco).”

On his one drive, Maye was 4-of-8 for 22 yards and added two rushes for 12 yards. The drive started at the Patriots’ 42-yard line and ended with a sack after going to the Jets’ 7-yard line.

“When you come off the bench at that point, it’s always tough, no matter the position, but especially the quarterback position, and I thought he handled himself well and tried to make a drive,” Mayo said, noting Mayo’s athleticism and ability to make every throw. “It’s something to build off of.”

In practice, the Patriots have given Mayo 30 percent of the first-team reps, Mayo said. The plan is to continue that approach.

“Right now I would say it’s still the status quo. I said it before, Jacoby is still our starting quarterback and we have to be ready to support him, 11 guys on offense. It’s everybody,” Mayo said.