The Patriots were defeated 20-7 by the Dolphins in Week 1 of the 2022 NFL season Sunday, but they may have suffered an even bigger loss after the game.
Quarterback Mac Jones came out of the loss in Miami banged up. The Patriots announced that Jones wouldn’t take part in his usual postgame news conference because of the injury.
NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero reported postgame that X-rays on Jones’ back were negative and that Jones will be further evaluated when the Patriots return to Foxborough, Mass.
It’s unclear when Jones was injured. He played every offensive snap for the Patriots on Sunday. He was sacked twice and hit three times during the contest; it’s possible he could have been hurt during one of those plays.
Jones’ status moving forward will bear watching. Back injuries tend to linger and can be easily aggravated, so the Patriots will surely play it safe with their second-year QB.
If Jones has to miss time, the Patriots will have to decide between a veteran and a rookie as to who replaces him.
MORE: Mac Jones discusses Patriots’ offense struggles during the preseason
Who is the Patriots’ backup quarterback?
Brian Hoyer is currently New England’s backup quarterback. The veteran began his career with the Patriots in 2009 and is in his fourth stint with the team.
Hoyer would likely get the first crack at replacing Jones if the first-round pick has to miss time. He has started 39 games during his career and is 16-23 in those appearances.
Hoyer last started in 2020 in place of Cam Newton. He completed 15 of 24 passes for 130 yards and an interception in a loss to the Chiefs.
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Patriots QB depth chart
| Rank | Player |
| 1 | Mac Jones |
| 2 | Brian Hoyer |
| 3 | Bailey Zappe |
As noted above, the Patriots have three quarterbacks on their roster. Hoyer is Jones’ backup and fourth-round rookie Bailey Zappe is the third-string quarterback.
Zappe was inactive for Week 1. He performed well during the preseason, completing 63.4 percent of his passes for 463 yards and a touchdown. He also logged three interceptions, so he may not yet be ready to start a regular-season NFL game.
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