Bill Belichick may have finally run out of patience with Mac Jones.
Though the Patriots coach wouldn’t name his starting quarterback for Sunday’s game against the Chargers, as is his wont, Jones did not take any reps during the open portion of practice on Wednesday, according to multiple reports.
Bailey Zappe led the way followed by Malik Cunningham, while Jones and Will Grier did not throw, per ESPN.
“I’m not going to make any announcements on our lineup at any position,” Belichick told reporters before practice. “See how practice goes, see if everybody is ready to go, see what the injury situation is, and we’ll go with what we think is best Sunday.”
Jones, 25, has started all 11 games this season for the 2-9 Patriots.
His status for Sunday’s game against the Giants was up in the air, with Belichick coy in the leadup to the game about who would start.
Jones, 25, kept his spot until he was benched for Zappe at halftime after throwing two interceptions in the 10-7 loss to the Giants.
That marked the fourth time this season the 2021 first-round pick was benched during a game this season.
Jones has 2,120 yards, 10 touchdowns and 12 interceptions this season and has steadily declined since making the Pro Bowl as a rookie, putting his future with the franchise up in the air.
Zappe, a 2022 fourth-round pick, has also struggled during his cameos, going 19-for-39 with 158 yards and two interceptions.
Cunningham, 25, signed with the Patriots as an undrafted free agent earlier this year.
He started the season on the practice squad, was signed to the active roster in mid-October, was released, and then re-signed to the practice squad.
Grier, a third-round pick of the Panthers in 2019, was briefly let go by the Patriots last week before rejoining the practice squad.