A rough start to the 2023 season worsened for Mac Jones on Sunday as he was benched amid continued struggles and may have lost the New England Patriots‘ starting quarterback job.
New reporting Wednesday suggests Jones’ teammates may be done with him, too.
Teammates Reportedly ‘Done With’ Mac Jones
It’s been tough sledding for Jones through the first 10 games this fall, though Bill Belichick has stuck with him as the starting QB each week. That could change this week as Belichick has yet to name a starter after benching Jones during Sunday’s 10-6 loss to the Indianapolis Colts.
Jones has struggled to find much consistency this season, completing 212 of 324 attempts for 2,031 yards, 10 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions through 10 starts. He has been pulled from games early in favor of backup Bailey Zappe three times this year.
To make matters worse, Patriots reporter/columnist Andrew Callahan of the Boston Herald reported Wednesday that one team source said the locker room is “80-20 out on Mac,” and another said “the vast majority of players are done with him.”
That mindset has been a long time coming as Jones has struggled to reach the heights of his rookie campaign each of the last two seasons.
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He went 352 of 521 (67.6%) for 3,801 yards, 22 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions in 17 starts as a rookie, coming up second in Offensive Rookie of the Year voting for the AFC and earning a Pro Bowl nod.
He followed that up with a tough 2022 campaign, going 288 of 442 for 2,997 yards, 14 TDs, and 11 INTs across 14 starts. Those struggles have bled into 2023 amid the Patriots’ (2-8) own collective woes across the board in what’s thus far been perhaps their worst showing under Belichick.
Between the lack of offensive production in Sunday’s low-scoring loss and several missed opportunities to punch in touchdowns, Jones’ woes motivated Belichick to go in a different direction.
“Yeah, I just thought it was time for a change,” Belichick told reporters after the game, adding that he will “worry about next week next week” in regard to who will start at quarterback for New England.
Jones was reportedly in at quarterback when New England took its first reps of practice Wednesday, according to ESPN’s Mike Reiss, though he also reported that all three of the team’s quarterbacks took reps.
It’s unclear where that leaves Jones in the pecking order during the bye week.
Patriots’ Other QB Options
If the Patriots do elect to go away from Jones as the starter during their bye week, Zappe appears to be the first option.
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Zappe is the only other player to attempt a pass for New England this season, though he has been less than efficient at 10 of 25 passing for 104 yards and one interception in three appearances.
The Patriots’ unofficial depth chart lists Zappe as the backup, while third-stringer Will Grier could be another option.
Grier, now in his fifth NFL season, has made just two career appearances as he started twice for the Carolina Panthers in 2019, going a combined 28 of 52 for 228 yards, no touchdowns, and four interceptions. He was active the first two weeks of the season but did not play and has been inactive ever since.
The bye week could give New England a chance to better integrate him, though, if it does not feel confident turning to Zappe or Jones. Needless to say, Belichick and the Patriots are in a tough spot with no great answers at quarterback.
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