New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones is expected to start Monday night’s game against the Chicago Bears, barring a setback, a source told The Athletic on Sunday. Jones has missed the Patriots’ last three games with a high ankle sprain.
Barring a setback, Patriots QB Mac Jones is expected to start tomorrow night against the Bears, per source. Jones missed the last three games with a high ankle sprain.
— Jeff Howe (@jeffphowe) October 23, 2022
Three days ago, The Athletic reported there is no quarterback controversy for the Patriots and Jones will be the starter when he is healthy enough to return. Questions over the starting quarterback situation arose because Bailey Zappe, the team’s 2022 fourth-round draft pick, has played well in Jones’ absence. New England won both games Zappe started, beating the Detroit Lions and the Cleveland Browns convincingly in Weeks 5 and 6.
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Zappe has completed 72.9 percent of his passes in three games with 596 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions with a 111.4 passer rating. He came in for backup Brian Hoyer in Week 4 after Hoyer sustained a concussion.
Jones, the Patriots’ 2021 first-round pick, wasn’t playing great in his first three starts before the injury, completing 66 percent of his passes for 786 yards with two TDs and five interceptions, resulting in a 76.2 passer rating. The Alabama product sustained his ankle injury during New England’s Week 3 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
(Photo: Kirby Lee / USA Today)