Patriots QB Mac Jones returns ahead of showdown vs Steelers

After missing practice yesterday due to illness, Patriots QB Mac Jones is back in the building today.

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The team is scheduled to take the field at 12:15 PM for practice.

— Field Yates (@FieldYates) September 16, 2022

The New England Patriots got a huge lift on Friday with quarterback Mac Jones walking back into the building.

Things got a little dicey on Thursday with the second-year signal-caller missing practice with an illness. He’s already dealing with a back injury after getting clobbered in the season-opener by the Miami Dolphins. So the thought of Jones missing any time at this point was always going to raise some alarms.

But according to ESPN’s Field Yates, Jones has returned to the team ahead of the last practice before New England flies out to Pittsburgh.

The hope is that he will be ready to play in Week 2. Even with the back issues, he seemed to be headed in that direction regardless as a full participant in Wednesday’s practice.

If for some reason Jones isn’t able to suit up, the Patriots would be forced to turn to backup Brian Hoyer to take the reins under center.