FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Patriots Coach Bill Belichick confirmed Thursday that Mac Jones will start Sunday’s game at the Jets, and said the decision to start Jones was entirely related to the quarterback’s health.
“Yes. He’s ready to play,” Belichick said. “He was ready to play last week, just didn’t (play) the full game. This week is a different situation, and that’s it. We’ll take it from there.”
Asked if Bailey Zappe’s performance in last Monday’s loss to Chicago factored into the decision to start Jones, Belichick added: “No. That’s it.”
Zappe threw two interceptions in a scoreless second half and had one pass batted at the line in four second-half series. He finished 14 of 22 for 185 yards, one touchdown and two picks, after replacing Jones early in the second quarter. Zappe also took a sack. Over the Pats’ first three possessions, Jones completed half his passes and led the offense into a pair of punts and one interception.
The Patriots did not list Jones on their injury report Wednesday, the team’s first reports in four weeks that didn’t include him. He took 90% of the starting reps in Wednesday’s practice, according to a source.
Belichick did not commit to starting Jones beyond Sunday, however. His refusal to anoint Jones past this weekend was a stark contrast to Belichick’s insistence that Cam Newton was the team’s quarterback even while Newton was benched three times in the 2020 season. Belichick was also steadfast that Tom Brady would remain the starter in 2014 after he was benched in a miserable Week 4 loss to the Chiefs, and years earlier when Brady replaced Drew Bledsoe during a 2001 Super Bowl campaign.
“I don’t want to go through a lot of hypotheticals. That’s where not we’re at,” Belichick said. “We’re getting ready for the Jets. That’s where we’re at. Period.”
He later added: “You’re going to give me a bunch of hypothetical situations, then I don’t know what those hypotheticals are, so we’re not going to get into that.”
On the season, Jones has completed 65% of his passes for 799 yards, two touchdowns and six interceptions. With Jones, the Patriots have pivoted to a riskier downfield passing attack, which has pushed him into the league lead for average depth of target among quarterbacks with at least four starts. On average, he’s targeted receivers who are 10.4 yards downfield, more than 2 yards higher than his average last season.
With Zappe, the Pats have used a shorter, safer passing game that’s produced an average depth of target of 7.4 yards. He’s also dropped under center more often, which has amplified the positive effects of the Patriots’ play-action passing game. When Jones has played, the Patriots have operated more frequently from shotgun, something Jones
TRADE: The Kansas City Chiefs acquired New York Giants wide receiver Kadarius Toney for a pair of picks in next year’s draft, a person familiar with the terms of the trade told The Associated Press.
The person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal was pending a physical, said the Giants will get the third-round pick that the Chiefs got as compensation for Ryan Poles becoming the general manager of the Chicago Bears along with a sixth-round pick in the 2023 draft that will be hosted by Kansas City.
“We just thought it was for the best of the team,” Giants Coach Brian Daboll told reporters.
BENGALS: Cincinnati star wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase could miss several games with a hip injury, a person familiar with his condition told The Associated Press on Thursday.
Chase has been bothered by the hip for several weeks. It’s possible he could wind up on injured reserve, but that hasn’t been decided. ESPN reported Chase will miss four to six weeks.
Chase was held out of practice Thursday as the Bengals (4-3) continued preparing for Monday night’s game at Cleveland.
PACKERS: Green Bay wide receiver Allen Lazard says his shoulder injury probably will prevent him from playing Sunday night at Buffalo.
Lazard hurt his shoulder in the Packers’ 23-21 loss at Washington last weekend. Lazard said he could feel immediately that the injury could be troublesome.
BRONCOS: General Manager George Paton said Thursday that he still believes in embattled rookie head coach Nathaniel Hackett and expressed faith that scuffling quarterback Russell Wilson will start to resemble his old self soon.
Paton defended Hackett, who’s been hammered nationally over his persistent game management mistakes, and his $245 million quarterback who looks nothing so far like the nine-time Pro Bowler he was in Seattle.
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