Mac

Jones

The Jags’ incumbent backup sealed his Mac Jones fate when he suffered a groin injury in Jax’s second preseason contest. Despite the contest supposedly being “close,” Jones was never going to lose out to 30-year-old Beathard. His long experience will get him looks on the workout circuit.

It’s never good when a quarterback not named Tom Brady reverts back to their Patriots ways. Jones’ three seasons were marred with more downs than ups after a strong rookie campaign that saw him throw for 3,801-22-13 while leading the team to a 10-7 record. Jones is in a battle for the backup job behind Trevor Lawrence. Jones threw for 421 yards and three touchdowns this preseason while completing 73.1 percent of his passes, but we’ve seen strong preseason from him before. We’ll see if that’s enough to unseat three-year backup C.J. Beathard, who threw for 165 yards and one touchdown in the preseason on just 21 passes.

Beathard’s injury puts a damper on his attempt to win the backup job to Mac Jones, and Jones came back into the game after Beathard left in the fourth quarter. The 30-year-old quarterback will assuredly undergo testing, but even if this is a short-term injury, there’s a very good chance that Jones will end up backing Trevor Lawrence to begin the 2024 campaign.

Jones got the start before giving way to C.J. Beathard in the second half, but then was forced back into action after Beathard left with a groin injury. His first touchdown was a 25-yarder on what appeared to be a coverage miscommunication to Parker Washington, and the second was a 31-yard connection with Brevin Easton. Jones has played well so far while battling for the backup job with Beathard, but this competition will all but assuredly last until the end of camp — assuming Beathard doesn’t have a long-term injury, of course.

Beathard is the incumbent who has spent the last three years in Jacksonville and the last two years under Pederson. A true knower of the system, Beathard undoubtedly had the inside edge on this battle heading into camp and was the first to take the field in last week’s preseason game after the Jaguars pulled their starters. Beathard was solid in his outing, throwing for 125 yards and one touchdown while completing 7-of-14 passes, while Jones threw for 98 scoreless yards and completed 9-of-11 attempts. A former starter and first-round pick, Jones did about what we would expect against third-string defenders. It wouldn’t be surprising to see the Jags test him against stiffer competition in one of their final two preseason games.

Jones got the entire second half after Trevor Lawrence and C.J. Beathard. The former first-round pick’s longest completion was a nice throw on a 28-yarder to Josiah Deguara, and he was accurate and on-time with his throws; most of them of the short variety. Jones is attempting to win the backup signal-caller job from Beathard, and Saturday was a good — if not elite — showing for the 25-year-old. He’ll be back in action Saturday against the Buccaneers.

Jones was on the trade block heading into the offseason and now Schefter reports that the Jaguars have agreed to a deal to acquire him. The trade can be finalized Wednesday when the new league year starts, pending a physical. The Patriots will get a late round return as the sides were reportedly discussing a sixth-round pick, according to Schefter. Jones was the 15th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft and spent three seasons starting for the Patriots. He struggled in 2023, leading to a benching for Bailey Zappe. With new head coach Jerod Mayo coming in, it was inevitable the Patriots would go in a different direction at quarterback. Now, Jones goes to Jacksonville to backup Trevor Lawrence.

According to Rapoport, the Patriots appear open to trading Jones, as the former first-rounder could be on the move after three seasons with the team. The Patriots selected Jones with the 15th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. Jones was solid out of the gate in his first season with the Patriots, throwing for 3801-22-13 while leading the Patriots to a 10-7 record and a playoff berth. The following seasons were more of a struggle for Jones, who started 25 of a possible 34 games over that span and saw himself benched several times for Bailey Zappe. A split between Jones and the Patriots felt inevitable after he was permanently benched following a Week 12 loss to the Giants last season, but there was some thought he could remain with the new regime after Bill Belichick stepped away. The offensive environment in New England did Jones no favors, but he’s not without blame for the team’s offensive struggles. It’s fair to wonder if a chance of scenery could lead to better production in 2024, but Jones will likely prove to be more suited for a backup role.

Jones ended the 2023 season benched in the Patriots’ quarterback room. With a new head coach in Jerod Mayo and new offensive coordinator in Alex Van Pelt, the Pats are now expected to look elsewhere for a quarterback solution. Pelissero says there is a “good chance” Jones ends up dealt. The Patriots are evaluating quarterbacks in the draft and currently hold the No. 3 overall pick. If they stay at that pick, they can scoop up any of the top three quarterbacks that fall, or trade back and address the need via free agency. Either way, the Mac Jones era looks to be over in New England.

It means Jones will head into what could be the final year of his rookie contract having been healthy scratched for the final six games. Big changes are afoot in New England — including the potential firing of legendary coach/GM Bill Belichick — but it’s hard to believe whatever brain trust emerges is going to commit to Jones for 2024. A trade is a very real possibility. If/when Jones is dealt this spring, the next order of business will be deciding whether to pick up his fifth-year team option for 2025.