Mac Jones didn’t want to wait till Sunday.
The embattled Patriots quarterback appeared to at least give a hint about the team’s plans at quarterback against the Giants on Sunday.
Jones was asked if he would be starting after getting benched in the Patriots’ last game, a 10-6 loss to the Colts in Germany on Nov. 9.
“I hope so, That’s the plan, I think,” Jones said, according to NESN.
Patriots coach Bill Belichick has been mum on who would start as he has been asked repeatedly about the subject through the team’s bye week.
“I’ve told all the players the same thing — be ready to go. So hopefully they will be,” Belichick said Tuesday.
When pressed on the subject, Belichick said he “will let you know on Sunday.”
Jones has had a nightmarish third season as he continues his regression from a promising rookie campaign that saw him lead the Patriots to the playoffs after Tom Brady left for the Buccaneers.
Jones has completed 212-of-324 passes this season with 10 touchdowns and 10 interceptions for the 2-8 and last-place Patriots.
Jones told reporters he’s had “good conversations” with Belichick this week even as speculation swirled that he would be dropped to third string behind Bailey Zappe and Will Grier.
“Really what I’ve been focusing on is what I can control,” Jones said. “I’ve put a lot of thought into that. … That’s what I can do — control what I can control.”
Zappe has not exactly offered reason for optimism, completing 10-of-25 passes with an interception in the three games he has replaced Jones.
On Tuesday, Jones and Zappe both took first-team reps during the portion of practice open to the media.
Grier, who starred at West Virginia, has had some impressive preseason moments but has mainly been a practice squad player since the Panthers drafted him in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft.
The Patriots signed Grier this offseason.
The Giants will start Tommy DeVito against New England with the game at 1 p.m. at MetLife Stadium on Sunday.
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