Rumor: New England Patriots' Surprise Quarterback Plan?
The spotlight is on New England Patriots starting quarterback Mac Jones, and not in a good way.
After a sophomore slump in 2022, Jones hoped to bounce back with a more-qualified coordinator in Bill O'Brien taking over the offense. Through five games, though, that improvement hasn't happened. Jones had a decent start to the season, but his last two games have been absolutely brutal. In two blowout losses, he has completed 55.8 percent of his passes for 260 yards, no touchdowns and four interceptions with two fumbles.
On both occasions, the Patriots benched Jones late to allow Bailey Zappe to close out the games. For now, Jones remains the starter for Sunday's game against the Las Vegas Raiders, but if he were to be benched again, it may be a different quarterback taking the reins. According to Greg Bedard of Boston Sports Journal, third-string quarterback Will Grier would be next in line if Jones underperforms again.
“From talking to people around the team, I think, if Mac Jones doesn’t succeed this week, if he doesn’t retain his job, I think it’s Will Grier’s,” Bedard said on 98.5 The Sport Hub’s “Felger & Mazz.”
Grier scores a touchdown with the Dallas Cowboys in a preseason game against the Raiders.
A third-round pick by the Carolina Panthers in 2019, Grier has appeared in and started just two NFL games. Both of those games came with Carolina in 2019, and he completed 28 of 52 passes for 228 yards, no touchdowns and four interceptions.
For the past two seasons, Grier has been the Dallas Cowboys' third-string quarterback behind Dak Prescott and Cooper Rush. With the Cowboys trading for Trey Lance in August, they informed Grier that he would be among the final round of roster cuts. Dallas did give Grier one last chance to shine in the preseason finale against Las Vegas, and he took advantage of it by completing 29 of 35 passes for 305 yards and two touchdowns, plus 53 yards and two more scores on the ground, all with no turnovers.
Grier joined the Cincinnati Bengals' practice squad after his release from the Cowboys, then the Patriots signed him to their active roster on Sept. 22. He has yet to appear this season, but has reportedly impressed coaches enough to earn a better look.
The Patriots are going on 34 straight possessions without a touchdown, and with desperate times calling for desperate measures, maybe Grier could give the offense some sort of spark.
