It’s safe to say Mac Jones will open the season as the New England Patriots’ starting quarterback. After all, he’s now their only one.
The New England Patriots surprised the NFL world by waiving Bailey Zappe on Tuesday. Making the decision even weirder, they also cut rookie fan favorite Malik Cunningham a day after releasing Trace McSorley.
That leaves Jones as the lone quarterback on their 53-man roster.
The Patriots are waiving both Bailey Zappe and Malik Cunningham, a source tells @jeffphowe.
Mac Jones is now the only QB on New England’s roster. pic.twitter.com/0GbPvlKC3I
— The Athletic NFL (@TheAthleticNFL) August 29, 2023
Of course, this is only a temporary oddity.
Following Tuesday’s roster cutdown deadline, the Patriots can scour the market for other jettisoned passers. They can also add one of their discarded quarterbacks to the practice squad if they clear waivers.
A quarterback controversy briefly unfolded last season when Zappe amassed a 100.9 passer rating in place of Jones. However, the former fourth-round pick will now search for a new team to play out his second season.
The only quarterback drama now entails who will sit behind Jones, who backslid in 2022. The No. 15 pick threw just 14 touchdowns to 11 interceptions in 14 games while steering an offense lacking an official coordinator.
Bill O’Brien returns to fill that role after serving as Nick Saban’s offensive coordinator at Alabama, Jones’ alma mater. At the moment, there’s no Plan B lurking over the 24-year-old’s shoulder.
Unless the Patriots want to risk a repeat of the NFC Championship Game, they have less than two weeks to locate another quarterback before opening their 2023 season against the Philadelphia Eagles.