New England Patriots QB Mac Jones in a bad spot against the Dallas Cowboys Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Time is running out for Patriots QB Mac Jones

By Pierce Downey | Last updated 10/1/23

The 2023 season is a critical one for Patriots QB Mac Jones to prove his worth. Unfortunately, through four games, things are not looking bright for the former Alabama star and his future with New England is uncertain.

So far this year, Jones has won just one game in four attempts, throwing for 898 yards, five touchdowns and four interceptions along the way. During his most recent showing in a 38-3 loss against the Dallas Cowboys, Jones turned the ball over three times – two resulting in touchdowns by the defense – and was benched in the third quarter for Bailey Zappe.

"Wasn't my day. [I am] definitely disappointed in myself," Jones said after the game.

MAC JONES PICK-6!

Fumble for a TD earlier, now INT for a TD... he's melting down...pic.twitter.com/at8SBea8Lw https://t.co/pM6zkxlhsA
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) October 1, 2023

Jones' career started out with great promise. In 2021, his rookie year, he threw for 22 touchdowns, led the team to a solid 10-7 finish and appeared in a Wild Card game. Once then-OC Josh McDaniels left for the Las Vegas Raiders the following offseason, however, things began to fall apart.

In 2022, with Matt Patricia guiding the offense, Jones' numbers took a massive drop, with the second-year signal-caller managing just 14 touchdowns to 11 interceptions. To bring juice back into the offense, in the 2023 offseason, the Patriots hired accomplished coach Bill O'Brien to replace Patricia as offensive coordinator, but so far, the hire appears to be a failure.

If Jones continues to struggle and can't get it done this year under O'Brien, a change at the quarterback position is virtually certain for 2024. That would mean the Patriots seeing their third starting quarterback since Tom Brady left in 2020.

Time is running out for Jones to get back on track. Although there are still 13 games left to play in the regular season, Patriots fans and coaches alike are growing more and more frustrated watching the current state of the offense as the weeks go by.

Patriots HC Bill Belichick made a statement Sunday by benching Jones for the last half of the game, but he could make an even bigger one by permanently sidelining Jones for the rest of the season or by trading him to a new team. As of now, Jones still looks to be the starter moving forward, but that could change in an instant.

The Patriots' next game will come against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, Oct. 8th.

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