Over the last couple weeks, Bill Belichick coyly made it clear that Pro Bowl passer Mac Jones is “day by day” as he recovers from the high ankle sprain he suffered in the Week 3 loss to the Ravens.
Rookie Bailey Zappe -- who stepped in for an injured fill-in starter Brian Hoyer in last Sunday’s loss in Green Bay, is fully healthy and seemingly in line to make his first NFL start this week against Lions at Gillette Stadium – chose that same “day to day” phrase to describe his own preparations as he steps into the quarterback spotlight in New England.
“The same way I have for the past four weeks,” Zappe said of his approach, though the fourth-round pick is clearly in an elevated spot. “Just taking it day by-day, continuing to get better every day. Kind of have the mindset of one percent better every day. Kind of taking it that way and just going to practice every day with the mindset of taking every rep like a game rep. Just getting better every day.”
Jones actually returned to the practice field on a limited basis on Wednesday, while Hoyer was absent due to a concussion. But Jones is clearly still quite limited by in his movement on the lower left leg injury. That, and New England adding veteran backup Garrett Gilbert to the practice squad this week, are signs that Zappe could get the starting nod on Sunday.
“If that’s what happens, that happens. That’s Coach Belichick. That’s a question for him. I’m not going
to get into those details,” Zappe said of the possibility and the potential benefit of his experience at Lambeau Field. “I’m sure there will be a little bit more comfortability with it. But, like I said, I’m going to lean on my teammates a lot. They helped me a lot at the Packers, and I’m going to lean on them even more this upcoming game, or whenever it is. I’m really excited for just going to practice every day and getting better.”
Zappe said that Jones has been “helpful” as the rookie prepared for his elevated role the last two weeks and in return he’s tried to help his veteran leader as he misses time to injury for the first time in his football career.
“We’re just trying to be the best for the team,” Zappe said.
And as Zappe prepares to be at his best for Sunday’s battle with a Lions team that fields the worst defense in football, despite its blitz-heavy approach, the rookie does believe he can build on the limited experience he’s gained in a swift period of time.
“There’s a lot of things. I’m not going to get into the specifics, but there was some things that I’ve learned. Just from my fundamentals, being able to calm myself down and just continue to focus on my job and what my job is at hand,” Zappe told a massive scrum of media gathered in front of his locker at Gillette. “I think it’s the same for every week. I mean, I’ll continue to take advantage of every rep that I get, no matter how many it is. I’m going to continue to get better every rep and get better every practice. Just really take it day by day.”
Day by day, the story of the Patriots quarterback situation through the first month-plus of 2022.
