New England Patriots release first depth chart, Mac Jones at starting QB

Just this spring, Bill Belichick opened up the quarterback competition. But as the Patriots head to their first preseason game, Mac Jones is first team.

That’s according to the New England depth chart, which the team released this week. You can check it here to see how everyone else will line up. You always publish depth charts with the caveat that coaches don’t consider them set in stone. They morph and evolve.

But you need a chart the week of a game. Fans need something to look at and discuss. So does the media. The Patriots entertain the Houston Texans Thursday night in Foxboro, Mass.

Mac Jones, the former Alabama star and 2021 first-round pick, is QB1. Bailey Zappe comes in on the second team. He’s the former Houston Baptish/Western Kentucky star who Belichick selected in the fourth round of the 2022 draft. Earlier this spring, there appeared to be a competition between Jones and Zappe and after Zappe started two games as a rookie. Former Penn State star Trace McSorley is third team. The Ravens selected him in the sixth round of the 2019 draft. He started a game last December for the Cardinals, then signed a free agent deal with the Patriots earlier this year.

Now, who will see playing time in the first preseason game. The Texans probably will trot out CJ Stroud, the No. 2 pick, to test his skills.

“Yeah, we’re still working on that,” Belichick told reporters of his plan for preseason playing time, “But the players who are least experienced will get the most playing time. I can tell you that.”

So, will Mac Jones start the game?

“Yeah, I don’t know,” Belichick answered.

Mac Jones needed to revive his NFL career after struggling with an ankle injury. He missed three games with a high ankle sprain. Overall, his QB rating dropped from 92.5 during his rookie season to 84.8 last fall. The frustration over his declining play may or may not have led to Jones yelling at offensive coordinator Matt Patricia and yelling at the receivers coach during position meetings.

Belichick hired Bill O’Brien, the former Houston Texans head coach, to run the offense. O’Brien runs a version of the offense Alabama used when Jones helped the Tide win a national title. Jones said the vibe at training camp is decidedly different.

“Obviously, the plays and the physical stuff is there,” Mac Jones said last week “I just have to go out there and try and lead. Really, for me, I’ve always kind of been a fun person, in my opinion. Hopefully people agree. But, that’s why people like to play with me, you know? Because we like to go out there, and have fun and compete.