John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via Getty Images
The New England Patriots are reportedly planning to start Mac Jones for Sunday’s matchup against the New York Giants, according to Andrew Callahan of the Boston Herald.
Per that report, Jones and Bailey Zappe split the first-team reps in practice this week, leading to uncertainty about which player would start, especially after Jones was benched for a third time late in last week’s 10-6 loss against the Indianapolis Colts.
Jones told reporters this week he was hoping and planning to start against the Giants and that he was thankful for the opportunity to be in the league:
“I always work really hard for that. Really put a lot of attention to detail into the week like I talked about. A lot of that decision making is things I can’t control, but I can control my attitude and my effort like I talked about. I’m really thankful overall just to be in the NFL and to be playing quarterback on Thanksgiving, right? It’s a great week to be grateful for a lot of things. To play this game, the game we love, together, I think that means a lot to me regardless of the situation.”
The 25-year-old Jones, a Pro Bowler in his 2021 rookie season, has regressed in each of his three years. In 2021 he showed promise, finishing with 3,801 yards, 22 touchdowns and 13 interceptions while taking 28 sacks and completing 67.6 percent of his passes. The Patriots went 10-7 in his starts and reached the postseason.
But the shine started to wear off in 2022. He threw for 2,997 yards, 14 touchdowns and 11 picks, taking 34 sacks and completing 65.2 percent of his passes. The Patriots went just 6-8 in his 14 starts.
And then there’s this season.
Jones has been rough, throwing for 2,031 yards, 10 touchdowns and 10 interceptions while completing 65.4 percent of his passes and being sacked 21 times. The Patriots are 2-8 in his starts and currently have the second worst record in football, currently putting them in line to potentially select one of the top quarterbacks on the board in the 2024 NFL draft, Caleb Williams or Drake Maye.
Jones, in other words, might be playing poorly enough to guarantee his team the ability to draft his successor.
Granted, the Patriots haven’t surrounded him with much talent on offense, arguably possessing one of the worst receiver groups in the NFL. Bill Belichick the general manager hasn’t done his offense many favors. And Zappe hasn’t impressed in relief duty either, throwing for 104 yards, no touchdowns and an interception in three appearances while completing just 40.4 percent of his passes.
But Jones hasn’t elevated New England’s offense. At this point, he’s like the movie your family settles on over the holidays because it’s the only one nobody in the group has already seen—it isn’t a good option, it’s just the best one you currently have.
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