FOXBOROUGH — A trying season for Mac Jones will end on a low note.
The 2021 first-rounder has been demoted to third-string quarterback for Sunday’s season finale against the Jets. Jones will serve as the emergency quarterback, while Nathan Rourke backs up Bailey Zappe. The Patriots claimed Rourke off waivers three weeks ago after losing Will Grier and Malik Cunningham.
This season couldn’t have gone much worse for Jones, who was benched four times before losing his starting job for good in late November. The third-year quarterback threw more interceptions (12) than touchdowns (10) and the Patriots went 2-9 in his starts. Still, just two weeks ago offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien offered Jones a vote of confidence.
“I feel good about Mac Jones, I really do,” said O’Brien. “I think Mac Jones is a smart guy. He’s a very hard worker. He’s really done a good job in this situation here of being a good teammate.
“Look, these are things that happen in the course of a lot of careers, right? You have some ups and downs. He’s approached it the right way. He’s working hard. I believe in Mac. So I think Mac’s going to be just fine.”
The Patriots will also be without Tyquan Thornton (ankle), Trent Brown (illness), Josh Bledsoe (healthy scratch), JaMycal Hasty (healthy scratch), La’Michael Pettway (healthy scratch) and DL Sam Roberts (healthy scratch) in the season finale.
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