NEWSLETTER
There is a growing expectation that New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones will be ready to play by Monday’s kickoff against the Bears.
And it sounds like we’ll learn more when this week’s injury reports roll out.
ESPN’s Mike Reiss has details on one last thing that needs to go down before Jones returns to the top of the depth chart.
Jones telling teammates he has just one hurdle left to clear feels like a tell that he is just about ready to return to the starting lineup. And if Jones can show he is healthy, it will make for an interesting decision for the Patriots to make in terms of who will be QB1 this week. An ankle injury has kept Jones out of action since Week 3 against the Ravens. But the Patriots haven’t fallen off too hard without Jones. In fact, they’ve won their last two games thanks in part to the efforts of Bailey Zappe. Because nothing says Darth Hoodie Sith Lord Magic™️ like Bill Belichick getting productivity from a fourth-round rookie quarterback who played collegiately at Western Kentucky.
If Jones plays, it sets up what should be a fun matchup of 2021 first-round quarterbacks. The Bears took Justin Fields with the 11th overall pick that year. And in doing so, they made him the fourth QB off the board in his class. Meanwhile, the Patriots snagged Jones with the 15th selection. That made him the fifth (and final) first-round QB taken in 2021. The Bears did ample pre-draft work on Jones, but the regime that chose Fields over Jones isn’t around anymore. Not that I’m complaining. But this does set up for a Jones grudge match (if he is healthy).
Both the Pats *AND* Bears practice today. And both will reveal their first injury reports of the week. When they drop, we’ll have our first inkling as to who is suiting up for Monday Night Football.
