FOXBOROUGH, Massachusetts — New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones is dealing with what doctors have diagnosed as a severe ankle sprain that will require many surgery, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Jones will likely miss several games, the sources said, and he and the Patriots are still discussing his options and the best way forward.
Jones, who sustained the sprain in Sunday’s 37-26 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, turned down questions about his recovery timeline when asked about it earlier Monday.
During a video conference with reporters from the Patriots facility, Jones repeated the words “day to day” or “day to day” nine times.
“I’m just going to take it day by day, get my treatment and do what I’m doing. See how I feel,” he said. “If you have any more questions like that, talk to Coach [Bill] Belichick. I think he likes those questions.”
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Jones, who was in a lot of pain when he jumped off the field on Sunday, laughed and smiled as he delivered the line over Belichick, who has notoriously disdain for covering injuries with reporters.
The Patriots (1-2) will visit the Green Bay Packers (2-1) on Sunday and Belichick said early Monday that he would not speculate on whether Jones would be placed on an injured reserve.
Jones echoed those thoughts, saying, “A lot of times you don’t know exactly what’s happening. You just have to get your treatment and hopefully you’ll feel better the next day and grow from there. … I’m just waiting for the time here “Just let it play, see how I feel. Honestly, I’m just trying to come tomorrow and get my rehab going.”
Veteran Brian Hoyer is the Patriots’ best backup, and fourth-round Western Kentucky Bailey Zappe was the third option.
Captain Matthew Slater was asked Monday how the Patriots would react if they were without Jones.
“I hope we don’t have to find out, but I do believe we will respond appropriately,” he said. “We’re very early in our season, and if we don’t get it right, this thing could walk away from us.”
Hoyer has lost 11 consecutive starts, which is the longest active streak in the NFL.
Meanwhile, the Packers have won 14 regular-season home games in a row, the longest active streak in the NFL.