The New England Patriots‘ 2023 season has been nothing short of a disaster. With just two wins as we enter the month of December, Patriots fans must be wondering just how much worse it could actually get.
With the offense struggling and seemingly having no answers, it looks as if the Patriots will be making a change under center as Bailey Zappe looks to take over for Mac Jones.
This move signals what looks to be the beginning of the end for Jones and his time in New England, and with that begs the question of just what happened to him and how he got here. Let’s take a closer look at Jones and his time as a Patriot.
What Happened to Mac Jones?
Jones was drafted by the Patriots out of Alabama with the 15th pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. It was thought that Jones was a quarterback who brought an advanced knowledge of the position to the team and that what he lacked in perceived physical traits, he would make up with football IQ.
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The future looked bright, and Jones had his best season to date in his rookie year, where he finished with a 10-7 record, 3,801 passing yards, and 22 touchdowns, ending the season with a Pro Bowl appearance.
After Year 1, it looked as if the Patriots did it again and had their quarterback of the future. However, those good feelings changed rather quickly as 2022 saw Jones take a step back in all categories while winning only six games in 14 starts.
There were many factors, such as instability with the play-callers, as well as a changing of the guard when then-offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels left to become the head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders after the 2021 season.
Those factors played into the tough season for Jones and the Patriots, and with the addition of Bill O’Brien as the new offensive coordinator for 2023, the hope was that Jones would be able to find what he had started to build in 2021.
Through 11 games in 2023, the Patriots are 2-9, and Jones has not played well at all. Through the first 11 games of the season, Jones has tallied 10 touchdowns and 12 interceptions and has been struggling at nearly every facet of the position.
Fast forward to the current day, and as the Patriots prepare to play the Los Angeles Chargers, it looks like the Jones era is coming to an end. Reports are that Zappe will get the start on Sunday afternoon, and the move signals what may be the end of an era for Jones and the Patriots.
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