NFL Expert Shocking Prediction: New England Patriots Demote Mac Jones to No. 3 QB?
The New England Patriots have been under fire all season, and rightfully so. No player has felt the heat more than quarterback Mac Jones.
Since finishing as the runner-up for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2021, Jones' play has taken a nosedive in the last two years. Last year's struggles were largely blamed on the lack of a true offensive coordinator, but with Bill O'Brien returning to New England this season, Jones was expected to have a bounce-back campaign. With the Patriots sitting at 2-8 during their Week 11 bye, that clearly hasn't happened.
In 10 games this season, Jones has thrown as many touchdowns as he has interceptions, and his passer rating is the lowest of his career. He has also been benched in favor of Bailey Zappe three times, including during last Sunday's loss to the Indianapolis Colts in Germany.
Jones on the bench.
Getty
After the latest benching, it's widely speculated that the Patriots could move him down to the backup role permanently. According to NBC Sports Boston's Tim Curran, they may even go a step further while shaking up the depth chart completely.
"I think he'll [Jones] probably be dropped down to third-string," Curran said on The Rich Eisen Show. "You're gonna elevate Will Grier and you're gonna elevate the player that took the final snaps the other day...Bailey Zappe.
"If I was a betting man, and I don't have any intel on this, but Will Grier gets the reps to be the starter, and if he fails in that, then Zappe would start and Grier would be No. 2 and you proceed through the end of the year and try to maintain the culture."
Zappe has been the Patriots' primary backup for the last two seasons, so it would be surprising if he didn't get the nod if Jones was demoted. Meanwhile, the Patriots signed Grier in September as added depth, but he has yet to take a snap for the team. If Curran's intuition is right, that could change very soon.
The Patriots don't play again until Nov. 26 when they face the New York Giants, so their quarterback situation will be one to watch until then.
