PHILADELPHIA, PA - AUGUST 19: Mac Jones #10 of the New England Patriots (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
The New England Patriots likely expected to go into the season with Cam Newton as the starting quarterback and first-round pick Mac Jones as the backup, but the Alabama rookie has made it very hard to stick to that plan given his play in the preseason.
Jones has looked much further along in his development than anyone could have anticipated, and Newton’s own struggles paired with a COVID-19 mix-up that cost him practice time has helped make Jones the talk of the town in New England.