Last Sunday, when Minnesota Vikings QB Joshua Dobbs made his first start at U.S. Bank Stadium since joining the team, he needed a bit of help finding the home team’s locker room. But Mac Jones has been the New England Patriots’ starting QB since as the 15th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, yet that apparently hasn’t prevented the third-year QB from losing the locker room.
However, this is a much different scenario. Unlike Dobbs, who simply hadn’t learned the location of his destination yet, Jones losing the locker room means his teammates no longer believe in his ability to lead them into battle.
But that’s reportedly the story, according to Andrew Callahan of the Boston Herald, who has team sources suggesting “at least 80 percent of the Patriots’ locker room is out on Jones.” More sources said the “vast majority” of players no longer support him as the Patriots’ starting QB.
Each source indicated the lack of belief in Jones isn’t just isolated to one side of the ball, with both the offense and defense losing faith in the former first-round pick after leading the team to a 2-8 record thus far.
Jones, who was benched during Week 10’s loss to the Indianapolis Colts, heads into a bye week before the Patriots travel to face the New York Giants on Nov. 26. Coach Bill Belichick hasn’t committed to a specific starting quarterback for Week 12 yet, and Jones himself admitted he doesn’t know if he’s still the team’s starter.
With a bit extra time to prepare for their next opponent, it shouldn’t shock anyone if the Patriots, who score the second-fewest points in the NFL, went to backup Bailey Zappe or maybe even Malik Cunningham in an effort to create a spark. Will Grier is also on the roster as the third QB, with Cunningham technically on the practice squad but eligible to be promoted to the active roster at any point.
Related: See where Mac Jones lands in Sportsnaut’s NFL QB rankings after Week 10