Tag: Mac Jones

Jan 5, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Mac Jones (10) looks to pass during a game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christine Tannous/USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images

Reports: QB Mac Jones to sign 2-year deal with 49ers

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Former first-round draft pick Mac Jones is signing with the San Francisco 49ers, multiple outlets reported.

Jones, 26, chose the 49ers because he wanted the chance to work with head coach Kyle Shanahan, ESPN reported, adding his deal is worth $7 million over two years with $5 million in guarantees.

Jones was under consideration when the 49ers traded multiple draft picks to select Trey Lance No. 3 overall in 2021.

Hoping to find the next Tom Brady, the Patriots selected Jones with the No. 15 overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft. He threw 22 touchdown passes, went 10-7 and earned a Pro Bowl nod as a rookie before offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels left to become coach of the Raiders. In three seasons in New England, Jones was 18-24 as a starter. He completed 66.1 percent of his passes for 8,918 yards with 46 touchdowns and 36 interceptions.

After losing the starting job, Jones was traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars before the 2024 season for a sixth-round draft pick.

The backup to Trevor Lawrence, Jones played in 10 games and started seven in place of an injured Lawrence. He finished 2-5 as a starter. Jones passed for 1,672 yards with eight scores and eight interceptions.

Brock Purdy is entrenched as the starter in San Francisco, where he is expected to sign a long-term contract extension.

–Field Level Media

Oct 16, 2024; Watford, United Kingdom; Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) and quarterback Mac Jones (10) during practice at The Grove. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence out, Mac Jones in vs. Lions

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence has been ruled out for the team’s second straight game due to an AC joint sprain in his left (non-throwing) shoulder.

Mac Jones, who was acquired by Jacksonville via trade in March, will start for the Jaguars (2-8) in Sunday’s game against the host Detroit Lions. Jacksonville will head into its bye following the game.

Jaguars coach Doug Pederson said that it made sense for the team to give Lawrence additional rest with the bye on the horizon.

As for Lawrence’s possible return to action after the bye?

“It’s still a question mark but I’m optimistic,” Pederson said.

Lawrence, 25, missed the second game of his NFL career last Sunday.

Jones, 26, completed 14 of 22 passes for 111 yards and two interceptions as the Jaguars dropped their third straight decision with a 12-7 setback versus the Minnesota Vikings.

“He’s excited to have another opportunity,” Pederson said. “Obviously another chance for him to rebound from last week. As a team, same (thing). (We’ll) rally around him and support him and get ready to play a really good football team.”

Jones has thrown for 139 yards and two picks in three games this season and completed 66.0 percent of his passes with 46 touchdowns and 38 interceptions in 45 career games with New England and Jacksonville. He was selected by the Patriots with the 15th overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft.

Lawrence sustained the injury in the second quarter of Jacksonville’s 28-23 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Nov. 3. He finished the game, however, and completed 16 of 31 passes for 169 yards and two interceptions.

The No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, Lawrence has completed 61.3 percent of his passes for 2,004 yards, 11 touchdowns and six interceptions through nine starts in 2024.

–Field Level Media

Nov 3, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

Reports: Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence to sit out vs. Vikings

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence is expected to sit out Sunday’s game against the visiting Minnesota Vikings as he deals with an AC joint sprain in his left (non-throwing) shoulder, multiple media outlets reported.

NFL Network reported that rest and rehab appear to be the plan of the Jaguars (2-7) for Lawrence. However, surgery remains an option Lawrence and the Jaguars will consider.

Mac Jones, who was acquired by Jacksonville via trade in March, will start Sunday’s game versus the Vikings (6-2).

Lawrence, 25, would miss the second game of his NFL career.

He sustained the injury in the second quarter of Jacksonville’s 28-23 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles last Sunday. He finished the game, however, and completed 16 of 31 passes for 169 yards and two interceptions.

Jones became party to a controversy when current Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores was fired by the Dolphins. According to former NFL executive Michael Lombardi, Flores told his then-starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa that Miami should’ve drafted Jones instead. As the starting quarterback of the Patriots, Jones lost to Flores and the Dolphins twice in 2021.

The No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, Lawrence has completed 61.3 percent of his passes for 2,004 yards, 11 touchdowns and six interceptions through nine starts in 2024.

–Field Level Media

Jan 17, 2024; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones (10) arrives to a press conference held at Gillette Stadium to announce the team's hiring of new head coach Jerod Mayo (not pictured). Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: Patriots to trade QB Mac Jones to Jaguars

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The New England Patriots will trade quarterback Mac Jones, a former first-round pick, to the Jacksonville Jaguars for a late-round draft pick, according to multiple media reports Sunday.

The deal calls for Jones, who is from Jacksonville, to head to the Jaguars for a sixth-round pick in April’s draft, according to an ESPN report. Trades are not official until the new league year starts Wednesday, and Jones would have to pass a physical.

Jones, 25, was taken with the 15th selection in the 2021 draft out of Alabama. The No. 1 pick in that draft, Trevor Lawrence, is the starter in Jacksonville.

The Patriots, who with the No. 3 pick this year could select one of the highest-rated quarterbacks, were not going to pick up Jones’ fifth-year option for the 2025 season before the May 2 deadline, according to reports.

His career in New England started on a bright note. Jones made the Pro Bowl and went 10-7 in his first season, passing for 3,801 yards with 22 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. The Patriots lost to the Buffalo Bills 47-17 in the wild-card playoff round.

Over the past two seasons, however, Jones was 8-17 as New England’s starter with 24 touchdowns and 23 interceptions and fell out of favor with then-head coach Bill Belichick

Bailey Zappe, a fourth-round draft pick in 2022, wound up starting six games for the Patriots during Belichick’s final season with the franchise in 2023.

The team’s unofficial depth chart on Sunday listed Zappe as the starter, followed by Jones and Nathan Rourke.

Jones played under offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels as a rookie, then after McDaniels left to coach the Las Vegas Raiders, the quarterback was coached by Matt Patricia, Joe Judge and Bill O’Brien.

In his three seasons in New England, Jones completed 66.1 percent of his passes for 8,918 yards, 46 touchdowns and 36 interceptions in 42 games (all starts).

Of the five quarterbacks drafted in the first 15 picks in 2021, only Lawrence is a lock to start 2024 with the team that drafted him.

The San Francisco 49ers traded No. 3 pick Trey Lance to the Dallas Cowboys in 2023. The New York Jets benched No. 2 pick Zach Wilson and have given him permission to seek a trade, and Justin Fields, the No. 11 selection, could be traded by the Chicago Bears this offseason.

–Field Level Media

Sep 17, 2023; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones (10) reacts before playing the Miami Dolphins at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Pats not picking up Mac Jones’ 5th-year option

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The New England Patriots will not pick up quarterback Mac Jones’ fifth-year option for the 2025 season, MassLive.com reported on Tuesday.

The deadline for NFL teams to exercise their options for first-round picks from the 2021 NFL Draft is May 2.

Jones, who has regressed after a solid 2021 rookie season and was benched multiple times in 2023, would then become a free agent after the 2024 season.

Picking up the option would put the Pats on the hook for an estimated $23 million in guaranteed salary in 2025. Instead, New England will attempt to trade Jones, 25, this offseason, per the report.

Jones was the No. 15 overall pick in 2021 out of Alabama. He made the Pro Bowl and went 10-7 in his first season, passing for 3,801 yards with 22 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.

Over the past two seasons, however, Jones is 8-17 as New England’s starter with 24 touchdowns and 23 interceptions.

Bailey Zappe, undrafted in 2022, wound up starting six games for the Patriots during head coach Bill Belichick’s final season with the franchise in 2023.

–Field Level Media

Nov 26, 2023; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Bailey Zappe (4) throws the ball during the second half against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Bailey Zappe mum on Pats’ starting QB gig, appreciates ‘crazy’ journey

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Bailey Zappe said the matter of whether he was the New England Patriots’ new starting quarterback was “a Coach Belichick question,” but the second-year pro did not shy away from the spotlight when speaking with reporters Thursday in Foxborough, Mass.

“Nothing’s set in stone. I’m just taking it day by day, treating every rep that I get in practice like it’s a game rep and just preparing like I do every other week,” Zappe said.

Bill Belichick has not said anything definitive ahead of Sunday’s game against the visiting Los Angeles Chargers. That is similar to last week, when the starting quarterback job was up in the air before the Patriots faced the New York Giants.

Mac Jones started against New York and threw two interceptions before halftime before he was benched in favor of Zappe. In relief, Zappe completed 9 of 14 passes for 54 yards and an interception in a 10-7 loss.

Zappe took the majority of reps that reporters were allowed to see at Wednesday’s practice. He was followed by undrafted rookie Malik Cunningham, while Jones did not take any reps.

Zappe, 24, was a 2022 fourth-round draft pick of the Patriots and appeared in four games as a rookie, making two starts while Jones was injured. He was a surprising cut at the end of training camp and joined New England’s practice squad after going unclaimed on waivers.

“It’s been crazy,” Zappe said with a smile. “Been a lot of talks with both (team captain Matthew) Slater and Coach and everything, but I mean it’s part of the journey. It’s part, I guess everybody says part of your book, part of your chapter, whatever you want to say. But I mean, it’s been fun. It’s been a lot of learning, so I’m excited.”

–Field Level Media

Robert Kraft greets his QB Mac Jones as practice starts. Pats Camp 2

Patriots QB1 in Week 13? Ask Robert Kraft

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Offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien perceives the QB call for the Patriots is coming from the top of the organization. In New England, that would imply owner Robert Kraft and not head coach Bill Belichick.

Asked about Mac Jones’ hold on the starting quarterback job entering Week 13, O’Brien said he doesn’t have a deciding vote.

“I don’t make those calls. There’s a chain of command. The chain of command is Robert Kraft at the top, Bill Belichick and the assistant coaches are down here,” O’Brien said Tuesday.

O’Brien said the Patriots (2-9) aren’t zeroing in on individual roles but rather focusing on collective preparation for the Los Angeles Chargers. New England has lost four consecutive games and went 1-7 in October and November.

After throwing two interceptions in Sunday’s loss to the New York Giants, Jones was benched in favor of Bailey Zappe.

O’Brien said he is responsible for the lack of production from the Patriots’ offense, not Jones.

“Things haven’t gone great for him this year,” O’Brien said of Jones. “I don’t think that he’s the No. 1 guy to blame. If you want to blame anyone, blame me. I’m the one who designs it, and it’s not going very well.”

Jones has been benched in four games this season. He has 10 touchdowns, 12 interceptions and two wins.

Asked Monday on WEEI if he expected to be the starter this week, Jones said, “You always ask me, right? I think the biggest thing for me is — that’s a result. I’m going to focus on the process this week. Focus on competing and getting better. That’s all I’ve ever done at every sport. I know that if I do that, we’ll be in good hands. That’s something I need to focus on as always. I do have confidence in myself, and I have confidence in the guys around me.”

–Field Level Media

Nov 12, 2023; Frankfurt, Germany; New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones (10) leaves the field after an NFL International Series game against the Indianapolis Colts at Deutsche Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: Patriots QB Mac Jones to start vs. Giants

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New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones is expected to start Sunday’s game at the New York Giants, multiple media outlets reported.

NFL Network reported that backup Bailey Zappe could get into the game at some point, however.

The two split reps in practice this week for the Patriots, who benched Jones in favor of Zappe for the final drive of a 10-6 loss to the Indianapolis Colts on Nov. 12 in Frankfurt, Germany. The Patriots entered their bye after that game.

Head coach Bill Belichick declined throughout the week to name a starter.

Jones, a 2021 first-round pick, has thrown 10 interceptions and 10 touchdowns through 10 games.

New England (2-8) is wallowing in last place in the AFC East and looks to be headed for the worst season since head coach Bill Belichick’s first with the Patriots when they finished 5-11 in 2000.

New England ranks 31st in the league with an average of just 14.1 points per game. The Giants are last at 13.5 per contest.

–Field Level Media

Oct 8, 2023; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Bailey Zappe (4) quarterback Mac Jones (10) and quarterback Will Grier (19) walk out of the tunnel prior to a game against the New Orleans Saints at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Patriots waive No. 3 QB Will Grier

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Amid instability at the quarterback position, the New England Patriots are waiving Will Grier, ESPN reported Saturday.

The Patriots signed Grier, 28, to the active squad from the Cincinnati Bengals practice squad in September. He hasn’t seen any game action.

New England coach Bill Belichick has not named a starter for Sunday’s game against the New York Giants. NBC Sports Boston reported Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe split the reps at quarterback during practice this week.

Zappe told reporters that he had not been informed whether he’d be starting.

“I’ve told everybody to be ready to go,” Belichick said Friday. “Hopefully, that’s what they’re all doing. I’m not going to announce starters at every position or whatever. Everybody will be ready to go.”

Jones was benched late in the fourth quarter of a 10-6 loss to the Indianapolis Colts on Nov. 12 and replaced by Zappe. The Patriots had a bye this past week.

In 10 games this season, Jones, 25, has completed 65.4 percent of his passes for 2,031 yards with 10 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He’s been sacked 21 times and lost 127 yards.

Zappe, 24, has completed 10 of 25 pass attempts for 104 yards with an interception.

The Patriots are wallowing in last place in the AFC East with a record of 2-8 and look to be headed for the worst season since Belichick’s first with the Patriots when they finished 5-11 in 2000.

New England ranks 31st in the league with an average of just 14.1 points per game.

–Field Level Media

Sep 17, 2023; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones (10) and quarterback Bailey Zappe (4) talk with offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Bill O'Brien in the second quarter at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

Patriots OC implies starting QB is open for Week 12

Posted on | by Field Level Media

New England offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien left the door open Monday that Mac Jones might not be the starting quarterback in Week 12 for the 2-8 Patriots.

Meeting with reporters coming out of their bye week, O’Brien hinted that this week’s starter against the New York Giants (3-8) could be determined in practice.

“For me, I basically get everybody ready to play,” O’Brien said when asked if Jones was still the team’s starter. “At the end of the day, Bill (Belichick) will make that decision at some point and we’ll go from there.”

O’Brien said Jones still took first-team reps last week but said backup Bailey Zappe and third-string QB Will Grier also “rotated in there.”

“You have to strive for perfection on the practice field and then hopefully that leads to good execution in the games,” O’Brien said. “Right now, we haven’t had consistent enough execution in the games. … We have to have good practices, and then we can all determine, at every position, who should play the most.”

Jones was benched — again — in the Patriots’ ugly loss to the Indianapolis Colts in Germany on Nov. 12. The end of his day came after badly underthrowing an open Mike Gesicki in the end zone. It was the third time this season Jones has been yanked from a game.

O’Brien erupted at Jones earlier in the game on the sideline.

“I think that was just coaching in the moment,” O’Brien said. “That’s kinda the way I coach. Sometimes the way to get a point across is to be very demanding and very intense about it. That’s just the way I coach. That’s who I am. That’s how I’ve always coached. Sometimes that rubs certain players the wrong way. Sometimes players want that. I don’t want to speak for Mac, but I think Mac wants to be coached.”

Jones, 25, has thrown for 2,031 yards and 10 touchdowns against 10 interceptions this season. The Patriots picked him 15th overall in the 2021 NFL Draft.

–Field Level Media