Bill Belichick noncommittal on Patriots QB

Field Level Media|published: 11/14/2023, 11:12am EST

Dec 24, 2022; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones (10) checks with head coach Bill Belichick, left, and senior football advisor Matt Patricia, second from left, during the second half against the Cincinnati Bengals at Gillette Stadium. credits: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports

Faced with questions about sticking with Mac Jones as his starting quarterback, Patriots head coach Bill Belichick stopped far short of a vote of confidence on Tuesday.

Jones was benched as the final minutes of a loss to the Indianapolis Colts played out in Frankfurt, Germany, on Sunday — New England's eighth defeat in 10 games in 2023. Jones threw an interception in the fourth quarter and watched Bailey Zappe take the reins on the potential game-winning drive. Zappe also threw an interception.

"I have to play better to not be in that situation," Jones said Sunday.

Belichick can pick through every snap of that game and beyond before the Patriots play again Nov. 26 against the New York Giants. He indicated Tuesday he plans to take time to make a number of decisions without mentioning the quarterback position.

"We've got a lot of things to work on this week as a team, and we'll work through those," Belichick said. "That is what we are going to do this week.

Jones was sacked a season-high five times by the Colts. He has 10 touchdowns and 10 interceptions this season, part of his total of 40 turnovers since 2021, third-worst in the NFL.

The Patriots are 26th in the NFL in total offense with 294.5 yards per game and 31st in the NFL in scoring at 14.1 points per game.

—Field Level Media