FOXBOROUGH, MA – Despite a surprise appearance at the start of training on Friday, New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones The team announced that it will not play in Sunday’s road game against the Green Bay Packers.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter said Jones is suffering from what doctors diagnosed as a severe ankle sprain that could cause many to undergo surgery and likely miss multiple games. Jones sustained the injury in Sunday’s loss to the Baltimore Ravens when he was a 6-foot-8, 307-pound defensive lineman. Calais Campbell landed on him.
veteran Brian Hoyernow in his 14th season in the NFL, will take Jones’ place.
Coach Bill Belichick reiterated several times earlier this week that the Patriots were taking it “day after day” with Jones. Earlier on Friday, when asked what he would need to see from Jones in order to play, Belichick added: “This will be a decision made by the doctors, in consultation with Mac, of course.”
Belichick said there are situations where a player might be below 100% but still be able to play, and then that would be the coach’s decision. But that doesn’t appear to be the case with Jones, who barely moved or made any throws in his limited time on the training ground on Friday.
Hoyer, 36, lost his last 11 starts going back to the 2016 season, but Belichick has expressed confidence in him.
“he knows [the offense] Better than anyone else. Belichick said he is very experienced, has been in many different systems, watched a lot of football, and took a lot of shots for us in various abilities. I think he played well in pre-season.
Hoyer was in 13 of 18 for 136 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions in pre-season.
“You never want to see anyone get hurt,” Hoyer said. “And we all know Mac’s desire to compete to be there.” “For me, you support him, but also be prepared to play in the same sense. That’s just the nature of the business.”
non-veteran Billy Zappya fourth-round pick from Western Kentucky, would advance to the second round behind Hoyer.
The Patriots also ruled out starting a defensive intervention Lawrence Jay (Shoulder) and offensive offensive tackle Yodni Kagust (thumb) In Sunday’s game in Green Bay, the Packers have the longest winning streak in an NFL regular season at 14 games.