Quarterback Mac Jones sat on the bench for the final six games of New England’s 2023 season after starting the first 43 games of his NFL career. In March, the Patriots transferred the former Alabama All-American to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
This offseason, Jones has been getting ready to be Trevor Lawrence’s backup in 2024. But when he has a “big burning fire” to play, he does not intend to play that position for the remainder of his NFL career.
“After practice last week, I think that’s how I usually do my best after my worst,” Jones said to WJXT-TV in Jacksonville. That’s my perspective, in a sense. The past two years up there, I didn’t perform too well. I enjoyed my first year. But in the end, I have to perform well once more, and I can accomplish that by working hard, being dependable, and, as I mentioned earlier, being a fantastic teammate.
Jones led a postseason team and was selected as the 15th overall pick by Alabama, the defending CFP national champion team in 2020. As a rookie, Jones was selected to the Pro Bowl. However, in Jones’ two seasons since then, New England’s record was 8–17. This offseason, the Patriots traded for Jones and selected North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye with the third overall choice in the NFL Draft.
Jones stated, “I just want to go out there, have fun, enjoy the game again, and be the best player and teammate I can be, taking all the good and bad experiences with me.” The wisest people, in my opinion, take that to heart. I believe there are some events I could have learned from more effectively, so perhaps it wouldn’t happen again. I eventually realised that you should just concentrate on going forward because you never know what will happen or when your time will come, so you have to be prepared. You never know. I’ve discovered that in the NFL. A number of guys enter, a number of guys play.
In anticipation of his fourth season as Jacksonville’s starting quarterback, Lawrence is getting ready. C.J. Beathard has been his backup for the entirety of his career and is still with the Jaguars.
Jones stated, “Trevor and I have known each other since he was still 6-4 and I was this tall.” “He’s a great guy, and just by having him here, I’ve learned a lot.” Most importantly, I should just meet with the guys and take in whatever they have to teach me. Hopefully, I can be an open book for him and answer any questions he may have.
“Being the best teammate” for Jones has involved sharing what he’s picked up playing for coaches Nick Saban and Bill Belichick.
“I feel like I took little things that can help me down the line, and I can share that information really with the younger guys,” Jones said. “That’s how I see it going into my fourth year. I’m working with some of the younger receivers: Hey, try this move. When you see it come to life in practice, like I didn’t even throw one today – C.J. had it – but Brevin (Easton) ran a great route. And we kind of talked through it in the film room, and that’s what it’s all about. And I was so happy to see him execute it. I didn’t even throw him the ball, but I was so happy because you talk about it. It’s something I learned somewhere else – Alabama, Patriots, whatever – and then you kind of put it into fruition.”
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