Mac Jones will be ‘fully available’ for Patriots Week 8 vs Jets
By Morgan Jayne
On Wednesday it was reported by NFL reporter, Field Yates, that New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones took 90 percent of the practice snaps and therefore would be the starting quarterback in the upcoming Week 8 game against the New York Jets.
Jones was also taken off the injury report on Wednesday. Jones suffered an ankle injury in Week 3 against the Baltimore Ravens which caused him to miss three consecutive games.
In the Patriots Week 4 matchup against the Green Bay Packers, we saw Jones’ backup Brian Hoyer become the starter. However Hoyer got injured early in the game which resulted in the Patriots’ 2022 fourth round pick quarterback, Bailey Zappe to take over.
Hoyer’s injury landed him on the injured reserve list and Zappe was then named the teams starter.
Zappe fever took over Patriots nation
Zappe started his first NFL game against the Detroit Lions in Week 5.
This game saw the Patriots have their first blowout victory of the season as they defeated the Lions 29-0.
Zappe had 17 completions on 21 attempts and 1 touchdown pass. Zappe’s success continued in Week 6 as the Patriots dominated the Cleveland Browns in a 38-15 win.
Zappe had 34 attempts for 24 completions and 309 passing yards. He also had 2 touchdown passes. The rookie’s impressive performances did not go unnoticed amongst Patriots fans and sports media. The term “Zappe Fever” was coined as fans chanted the quarterbacks name during games and after wins.
With Mac Jones continuing to heal day-by-day and getting closer to making his return, a quarterback controversy was brewing in New England. Fans and media alike were speculating on which quarterback, Zappe or Jones, would be the teams starter.
Although Jones had been the starter at the beginning of the season, Zappe had led the Patriots to two consecutive wins and his success did not look like it was slowing down.
With the arrival of Week 7 and the Patriots scheduled to face the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football, the question to who would be the starter was unanswered. It was just hours before the game when Jones was named the starting quarterback over Zappe.
With Jones seemingly almost 100 percent healed from his injury, it came as a surprise when he was pulled from the game in the first quarter and Zappe took over.
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Jones only had 6 attempts and 3 completions before coming out of the game. Zappe, who played the remainder, went 14-22 with 1 passing touchdown. The Bears defense also had 2 interceptions against Zappe and 1 against Jones.
In the postgame press conference Belichick explained how the game plan all along was for both quarterbacks to play and that performance had nothing to do with Jones being pulled, it rather had to do with his injury.
No More QB Controversy for the Patriots
In a Thursday press conference, Patriots head coach Bill Belichick confirmed that Jones had a full workload in practice and that he would be the starting quarterback for Week 8.
Belichick on Mac Jones:
"Took a full workload yesterday and I expect him to be fully available for the game and ready to go."
Belichick later added:
"He was ready to play last week, but just didn’t feel it was the full game. This week is a different situation."
With Jones evidently healed injury and him being named the official starter for Week 8, it is time for the Patriots to continue what they started in the 2021 season. When the Patriots drafted Jones 15th overall in the 2021 NFL draft, Jones had a rookie of the year type season last year. He finished the season with 3,801 passing yards and 22 touchdown passes. He also led the Patriots to the playoffs, which they failed to reach in 2020.
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The start to Jones’ 2022 season was less than impressive as he only had 2 touchdown passes and 6 interceptions in the 4 games he has played. However, now that he is back he can attempt to recreate the magic he had with receivers Jakobi Meyers and Kendrick Bourne last season, as well as tight end Hunter Henry.
The Patriots have 12 straight wins over the Jets.
Mac Jones is currently 2-0 against them in his career and he will face off against the division rival for the 3rd time in his career on Sunday.