FOXBORO, Mass. — Patriots coach Bill Belichick said Wednesday that backup quarterback Brian Hoyer will start Sunday at Green Bay if Mac Jones is unavailable.
Jones suffered a high ankle sprain in last Sunday’s 37-26 loss to the Ravens and is reportedly seeking a second opinion on his best treatment option. Typically, the recovery period for a high ankle sprain ranges from four to six weeks. Jones did not appear at the start of practice Wednesday.
Before practice, Belichick answered all questions about Jones’ injury and status by describing them as “day by day.” In his opening statement, Belichick claimed Jones has “made a lot of progress here in the last, whatever, 48 hours.”
Hoyer made his last start in Oct. 4 2020, going 15-of-24 for 130 yards with one interception at Kansas City. He was benched that night in the second half of an eventual 26-10 loss. Last season, Hoyer went 9-of-11 for 227 yards and a touchdown across five game appearances in mop-up duty.
Hoyer’s last win as a starter came in 2016 with the Chicago Bears. He has since played for three other teams, including two separate stints in New England. In 2019, Hoyer went 0-1 as a starter in Indianapolis, where he backed up Jacoby Brissett. He finished 35 of 65 that season for 372 yards, four touchdowns and four interceptions.
Hoyer has been Jones’ primary backup for all three games this season, while fourth-round rookie Bailey Zappe has been a healthy scratch. Zappe is the only other quarterback on the roster or practice squad.
