Bill Belichick woke up Monday morning without an update on Mac Jones’ back injury.
The Patriots announced after Sunday’s season-opening loss to the Dolphins that Jones suffered a back injury, but there remain no details on how the quarterback was hurt or the severity of the injury. Belichick said that Jones flew back with the team from Miami, but offered no clarity beyond that.
“We’ll take a look at it today,” the Patriots coach said. “It has nothing to do with Mac. Just in general, where players are immediately after the game and where they are, let’s call it 18 hours after the game is often quite different. I know everybody’s hungry for an up to the second update, but honestly the best way to handle these situations is always to give a little time, see what happens, run whatever tests or analysis need to be run and then go from there. So that’s what we always do. That’s what we’re going to do in this case. That’s what we’re going to do in every other case with every other injury.
“Unless something is more clear cut or obvious in a very short period of time, which sometimes it is, but that’s why we have these medical procedures and we’re going to use them. So it’ll be that way with just about everybody. I’m sure there’ll be a couple examples, maybe a broken bone, or something that shows up on an X-ray right away, that’s a little bit different. But other injuries or potential injuries are evaluated much more thoroughly on the day after when there’s just a lot more information.”
Asked if he was aware at any point of the game if and when Jones suffered the injury, Belichick said, “Yeah. We’re aware of anything that’s reported.”
Jones took every offensive snap in Sunday’s loss as he completed 21 of 30 passes for 213 yards, one touchdown and one interception. It wasn’t until after the game that the injury was announced. He was spotted entering the X-ray and trainers’ rooms at Hard Rock Stadium, and walked under his own power through the locker room. His X-rays were negative, according to NFL Network.
Jones, who didn’t conduct a postgame press conference after Sunday’s loss, is scheduled to meet the media Monday at approximately 3:30 p.m.
