Ex-Patriots QB Mac Jones Dazzles Again In Jaguars Preseason Finale

It’s been the Mac Jones show in the preseason for the Jacksonville Jaguars, and the former New England Patriots quarterback added another standout episode to the collection Friday night.

Jones followed up strong showings in Jacksonville’s first two preseason games by completing 13-of-18 passes for 113 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions in a 31-0 win over the Atlanta Falcons in the Jaguars’ preseason finale at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

He finished the preseason completing 73.1% of his passes for 421 yards and three touchdowns. He also entered the game holding the highest quarterback rating out of anyone in the preseason.

Jones came in midway through the second quarter after starting quarterback Trevor Lawrence played the first two series of the game. The 25-year-old Jones got off to a slow start with punts on his first two series, but then led the Jaguars on scoring drives on each of their next three possessions — those scores came against Atlanta’s backups.

One of those series ended in the final seconds of the first half with Jones hitting Elijah Cooks in the end zone on a back-shoulder throw for a 13-yard touchdown pass. Jones then came out of halftime and led a 13-play, 70-yard drive that resulted in another touchdown.

The performance from Jones pretty much cemented himself as Jacksonville’s backup quarterback to Lawrence. Jones was in a battle for the spot during the preseason with C.J. Beathard, who didn’t play against the Falcons due to a groin injury.

Jones’ terrific play also had many wondering if the Minnesota Vikings, who lost rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy for the season due to a knee injury, would try to swing a trade for the 2021 Patriots first-round pick and hand him the keys to the offense.

But given how he performed, the Jaguars probably will want to keep Jones around as insurance in case anything happens to Lawrence.