3 Duds (& 2 Studs) From Patriots Week 6 Loss vs. Raiders

Dud: Mac Jones, QB

I don't think there's any question about it at this point, and it's probably way past due, but the New England Patriots probably can't move on from Mac Jones quick enough.

And I think what we're looking at here is not just a benching of Mac Jones, but a complete separation of the two sides here. The Patriots are obviously not a good fit for Jones, and Jones doesn't look like a long-term viable starter at this point.

What does that mean for Jones's future? I'm not sure. I don't think he's going to have great trade value after what we've seen this season, which now includes a boneheaded sack taken in the end zone for a safety in a do-or-die situation.

That's simply just inexcusable from your quarterback. You've got a chance in that situation to go down the field and get a game-winning field goal, you simply cannot hold the ball that long. It's been a disastrous season for Mac Jones.

This could be a messy situation for the next few weeks. With three quarterbacks (Malik Cunningham, Will Grier and Bailey Zappe) in the organization fighting to be potential long-term replacements for Jones, it's hard to even justify having Mac on the gameday roster as the QB2 if he's not starting. And if you're never going to activate him, it's suddenly hard to even justify having him on the 53-man roster.

Does he clear waivers and accept a practice squad role? Almost certainly not.

It's a mess, but that's what Jones' play has been too.