Patriots
Mac Jones appears to be settling in well along with his recent team, the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The former Patriots quarterback delivered an impressive performance for his hometown team over the weekend, completing 16 of 23 passes for 210 yards and two touchdowns in a 20-7 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
It’s only the preseason, but ESPN’s Michael DiRocco notes that Jones leads the NFL in passer rating (120.7) and is third in passing yards (308) and completion percentage (73.5%) during the last two weeks.
Jones, who’s battling for Jacksonville's backup QB spot behind Trevor Lawrence within the rankings, earned Jacksonville's starting spot within the team's final preseason game – and hasn't looked like the identical QB who struggled in New England's broken offense throughout the 2023 season.
While Jones' miserable final season in Foxborough saw the previous first-round pick lose the ball at crucial moments and often get slammed into the turf, the 25-year-old playmaker's early results with the Jaguars were much like those of the promising rookie who earned Pro Bowl honors with New England in 2021.
Although Jerod Mayo was far more open in his discussions with the media early in his tenure as Patriots head coach, he was not too forthcoming on Monday when asked about his opinion on Jones' encouraging play up to now in Jacksonville.
“I wish Mac all the best,” May said.he said Monday during an appearance on WEEI’s “Greg Hill Show.” “He's having a good preseason and I'm happy for him. I always talk about these being long-term relationships, you've heard me say that. I wish him nothing but the best – unless he's playing against the Patriots.”
While Jones has seemingly made great strides in his short time with the Jaguars up to now, it might probably be argued that a fresh start in 2024 could be useful for each Jones and the Patriots.
The Patriots, who traded Jones to the Jaguars in March in exchange for a 2024 sixth-round pick, needed to make room of their quarterback room as a promising recent addition, Drake Maye, was finally on the way in which.
And while Jones showed loads of composure as a rookie in New England, one other season behind the Patriots' current offensive line would likely have brought much more unlucky results for him this fall.
While New England looks to maneuver forward with Maye, a possible franchise player on the roster, Jones appears to be well positioned in Jacksonville.
“He's just lively,” Lawrence told DiRocco of Jones. “That's probably the best word to describe him. Lively. Loves football, loves being out there. Guys respond great to him, but he's got great command, too. He's not just a jokester. He's serious and takes care of his business. Really smart player and I'm impressed with how he's handled everything.”
The Patriots will face Jones and the Jaguars in London on October 20.
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