Since rookie quarterback Bailey Zappe replaced Mac Jones during the New England Patriots blowout loss to the Chicago Bears on Monday night, Patriots head coach Bill Belichick hasn’t exactly been forthcoming about who would be the team’s starting going forward, giving vague responses to questions on multiple occasions. But on Thursday, Belichick gave a much more revealing answer – while still getting a little testy with the media.
While reports circulated on Wednesday that Jones was expected to be the Patriots starter this week, Bill Belichick confirmed it on Thursday afternoon, revealing that Jones was New England’s first-team quarterback in practice.
“Mac [Jones] took a full workload yesterday. I expect him to be fully available here for the game and ready to go,” Belichick said as a part of his opening statement on Thursday, according to Pro Football Talk.
Belichick was then asked if that meant Jones would be the team’s starting quarterback during Sunday’s game against the New York Jets. Belichick responded in his classic testy fashion – but confirmed that Jones would, in fact, be the starter.
“That’s what I just said, isn’t it? He got a full load,” Belichick said.
Though Zappe initially appeared to energize the Patriots’ offense when he was inserted into the game, leading the team on back-to-back touchdown drives, he also threw two interceptions in the fourth quarter as the Bears scored 23 unanswered points to seal the victory.
While Jones has struggled at times this season, he also led the team to a postseason appearance in just his rookie season last year.
