Bill Belichick, head coach of the New England Patriots, is keeping everyone in suspense about the starting quarterback for Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers, given Mac Jones’ recent struggles. There’s speculation that the team might consider Bailey Zappe or Malik Cunningham for the position.
During Wednesday’s practice, Zappe and Cunningham shared reps in the portion open to reporters, while Jones and practice squad quarterback Will Grier did not participate in throws. Belichick, remaining tight-lipped, stated before practice, “I’m not going to make any announcements on our lineup at any position. See how practice goes, see if everybody is ready to go, see what the injury situation is, and we’ll go with what we think is best Sunday.”
𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚: The #Patriots are preparing to start Bailey Zappe against the #Chargers on Week 13, per @jeffphowe
That would make Mac Jones officially benched. Not just mid-game, but for real.
Looks like the 2021 1st round pick's era is done.https://t.co/tkv64KJngQ pic.twitter.com/I1eoTPfeac
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) November 30, 2023
Jones is having a challenging season, facing criticisms from fans and analysts who have observed him looking “broken.” The 2021 first-round pick has been benched four times, completing 64.9 percent of his passes for 2,120 yards and 10 touchdowns against 12 interceptions in 11 games.
While the offensive line and receiving options haven’t been ideal for Jones this year, his decision-making has been a significant concern. After being benched in a loss to the Indianapolis Colts, there were expectations that Zappe might take over for the game against the New York Giants, but Jones started and struggled before being replaced by Zappe.
Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien defended Jones, taking responsibility for the team’s struggles. O’Brien stated, “He’s a very bright guy. He works very hard, he’s passionate about the game. Things haven’t gone great for him this year. I don’t think he’s the No. 1 guy to blame. If you want to blame anybody, blame me.”
With the Patriots at 2-9 and on track for their worst season since the early ’90s, a change at quarterback might be in the cards for the matchup against the Chargers. If so, Zappe appears to be the likely starter, as Cunningham, an undrafted rookie, has seen limited action this season.
