Mac Jones finally speaks out on tumultuous season with Patriots
FOXBOROUGH, Mass — This has been a tough season for Mac Jones. And after being benched in Week 13 in favor of Bailey Zappe, Jones has fallen into the background. But with the season finally concluding on Sunday night, Mac Jones finally got a chance to speak to reporters. “Look, I’ve started a lot of games in […]
FOXBOROUGH, Mass — This has been a tough season for Mac Jones.
And after being benched in Week 13 in favor of Bailey Zappe, Jones has fallen into the background. But with the season finally concluding on Sunday night, Mac Jones finally got a chance to speak to reporters.
“Look, I’ve started a lot of games in this league, and I’ve been very fortunate for that,” Jones said Monday. “I look at it as a positive, being able to stay healthy at the end of the year and finish the year on a healthy note. Definitely a different situation.”
Jones had a standout rookie season, but declined his second year. And in the third season, it hit the lowest point. In his three seasons, Jones has 864 completions for a completion percentage of 66.1 percent, throwing for 8,918 yards and 46 touchdowns in 42 games played. On the rushing side, he has 117 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown.
And prior to officially being benched at the start of the game, Jones was benched during the game against the Dallas Cowboys, New Orleans Saints, Indianapolis Colts, and the New York Giants.
Once he was benched half way through the Giants game, Jones did not return to the field for another game this season.
So does he want to head elsewhere for his next chapter?
“We’ll see,” Jones said when asked about being traded. “I’m going to compete regardless. I’m really happy to be in the NFL and be a quarterback in the NFL. Obviously, this year didn’t go great and I’m going to do everything I can to get back on the right track.”
“What I’m looking for is the next opportunity,” he added. “I know it’s going to come, but at the end of the day, as a quarterback and a competitor, you’ve got to be ready, right? So I’m going to be ready.”
And despite the struggles, he has not given up.
“I’ve been here early, left late. A lot of people would have just said, you know, ‘I’m done. And I’m not gonna do that.’ And I’ve worked out hard, put on 7-to-8 pounds of muscle in the last couple of weeks here," Jones said. "So that’s where I’m at right now. And that’s why I’m looking forward to the next opportunity. I know it’s going to come but at the end of the day as a quarterback and a competitor, you’ve got to be ready, right? So I’m gonna be ready.”
“I’m doing my own things in the weight room, and I’m just getting stronger throughout the whole year," he added. "And it’s hard to do that. It’s really hard. But when I talk about my notes and things I’ve reviewed, that’s one of the things that went well,” Jones said. “So, gotta build on that in the offseason and it’ll help me in my next opportunity, wherever that is.”
