Patriots Thoughts Heading into Week 4

By: Steve Atkinson

The Patriots head to Green Bay Sunday to play the Packers and we don’t know who’s playing quarterback yet for the Patriots. After Mac Jones got a high ankle sprain during last Sunday’s loss to the Ravens speculation all week has been if Mac will play on Sunday. After being in agony heading into the locker room after he got hurt it would be a shock if he played at all on Sunday. I highly doubt that he will play after that injury. So, expect to see Brian Hoyer on the field Sunday against the Packers.

The day-by-day line when it comes to the Jones injury this week is ridiculous. Does Belichick realize that this isn’t when Brady was here and winning all the time when you could ignore the injuries and grunt to the media? It’s obvious Jones is injured and unable to practice and play. Why treat the media like they are children it makes no sense. When Bill was asked Wednesday if Mac had a high ankle sprain his answer was

“Day-by-day. What do I look like? A doctor. An orthopedic surgeon. I don’t know. Talk to the medical experts.”

Day By Day Is A Line This Week From Bill Belichick and Mac Jones

Why can’t he answer the question like a normal human being. Telling Aaron Rodgers and the Packers which quarterback is going to play makes no difference when you face Aaron Rodgers. It doesn’t matter if it’s Brain Hoyer or Mac Jones the Patriots weren’t beating Green Bay with Aaron Rodgers being home period.

Patriots will play Brian Hoyer Sunday

Mac Jones not choosing surgery is probably a good thing if he doesn’t have to. The NFL Network reported today that he isn’t ruling out playing Sunday and in team meetings. Honestly, that is what he should be doing as a quarterback and as a leader. Even if he can’t practice, he should be in the meetings and setting up the game plan.

On the other side, I wouldn’t blame Jones for taking my time coming back with the way Patricia has handled the offense. The protection isn’t that good, and Patricia can’t coach the offensive line and play call at the same time. He isn’t even an offensive coach, to begin with. But we’ve been talking about Judge and Patricia all season starting in training camp.

I trust Brian Hoyer over Patricia and Judge with the offense. He’s been in the offense longer than any of those two coaches. This is part of what he said to the media on Wednesday.

” My approach is the same always. Whether I get reps or I don’t get reps, you always got to be ready to play. As we saw on Sunday, you’re only one play away. I mean, that was the last offensive play of the game, so it didn’t really come up that day. But, it’s the nature of your job and the business that we’re in. Always try to be as prepared as I can, whether I’m taking every rep in practice or I’m taking none. It’s just a day-by-day process and how we’re handling it and go from there.”

Does anyone trust that Hoyer won’t soil himself like he did in 2020 against the Kansas City Chiefs when they got in the red zone. He even forgot how many timeouts there were leading up to halftime. That better not happen Sunday or any game following this one. Even if Mac is out for some time the Patriots should be 4-2 when they get to the bye week after the Indy game. But it seems Mac will come back sooner rather than later; however, I doubt it will be Sunday. Expect Hoyer to start in Green Bay.