Mac Jones will start the first game as the Jaguars’ QB this week

Nearly a year after his last start, Mac Jones is poised to return to the NFL’s starting lineup this week. The former New England Patriots quarterback is the next man up if the Jacksonville Jaguars’ Trevor Lawrence is forced to miss Sunday with a shoulder injury.

According to a report from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, it is considered “unlikely” that Lawrence will be cleared to play against the Minnesota Vikings. The next man up would of course be Jones.

The Patriots’ 15th overall selection in the 2021 NFL Draft, Jones showed promise early in his rookie career. However, toward the end of the season, he seemed to hit a wall and ultimately failed to develop into a franchise-level quarterback in New England.

After losing his starting job last November, the team’s new leadership led by Eliot Wolf and Jerod Mayo – both of whom were part of the organization when Jones was even drafted – decided to part ways. Jones was traded to Jacksonville for a 2024 sixth-round pick. He has appeared in two games for the club so far, going 6-for-9 as a passer for 28 yards.