The New England Patriots will turn to Brian Hoyer to quarterback Sunday’s game against the host Green Bay Packers after starter Mac Jones was ruled out Friday due to an ankle injury.
Reporters in Foxborough, Mass. spotted Jones at Friday’s practice walking gingerly, but he was officially listed as a non-participant for the third straight day.
Jones hurt his left ankle on the Patriots’ final offensive play of Sunday’s 37-26 loss to the visiting Baltimore Ravens. He hopped off the field on one foot after he was brought to the ground by Calais Campbell and got his ankle caught under Campbell’s leg.
The second-year quarterback suffered a “pretty severe” high ankle sprain, according to an NFL Network report Monday. Jones visited the New York Hospital for Special Surgery for a second opinion during the week.
Sunday will mark the first start Jones misses in his NFL career after taking the reins as a first-round rookie in 2021. In 20 career starts, he has thrown for 4,587 yards, 24 touchdowns and 18 interceptions, including a league-high five picks this year.
Hoyer, who turns 37 next month, is playing his third stint with New England, having backed up Tom Brady during 2009-11 and 2017-18. He returned to the team in 2020 and started a game for the Patriots for the first time. Hoyer has lost his last 11 starts dating back to 2016.
In 29 appearances for the Patriots, he has gone 56 for 86 (65.1 percent) for 692 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. His 14-year career also includes stops with the Arizona Cardinals, Cleveland Browns, Houston Texans, Chicago Bears, San Francisco 49ers and Indianapolis Colts, who have helped him amass 10,631 passing yards and 53 touchdowns with 35 picks.
The Patriots also ruled out offensive lineman Yodny Cajuste (thumb) and defensive lineman Lawrence Guy (shoulder). Safeties Joshuah Bledsoe (groin), Kyle Dugger (knee) and Adrian Phillips (ribs) were questionable, along with wide receiver Jakobi Meyers (knee), cornerback Jalen Mills (hamstring), defensive lineman Davon Godchaux (back) and linebacker Raekwon McMillan (thumb).
For the Packers, tackle Caleb Jones was ruled out due to an illness. Cornerback Jaire Alexander (groin) is questionable.
–Field Level Media