How long is Mac Jones out? Injury timeline, return date, latest updates on Patriots QB

Jacob Camenker

How long is Mac Jones out? Injury timeline, return date, latest updates on Patriots QB image

The Patriots lost not only their game against the Ravens in NFL Week 3, but they also lost their quarterback.

Mac Jones suffered an apparent leg injury on the Patriots' final offensive snap of the game. He had to limp off the field on one leg and couldn't put any weight on it as he went to the sideline.

A couple of Jones' teammates had to carry him into the locker room because of the injury.

Jones was clearly in pain, so many anticipated that the injury would keep him out long-term. Some even assumed it might be season-ending.

However, while the Patriots' top quarterback will almost certainly miss time, it doesn't seem like it will be as much as many initially anticipated.

Here are the latest updates on how long Jones will be out and what exactly his injury is.

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How long is Mac Jones out?

There is not yet a definitive timetable for Jones' absence from the Patriots, but ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that he will likely miss "multiple games" after suffering a high-ankle sprain.

Schefter noted that the Patriots are still "discussing [Jones'] options and the best way to proceed" in dealing with the injury.

However, if the multiple-game timeline holds up, then Jones would likely miss the team's Week 4 and 5 contests against the Packers and Lions at the very least.

The Patriots aren't giving much away. Coach Bill Belichick told reporters Jones has "made a lot of progress" early in the week and the team was still taking it "day by day" with him. 

If he cannot start Sunday against the Packers, Brian Hoyer will get the call. 

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What is Mac Jones' injury?

Mac Jones suffered a high-ankle sprain on New England's final offensive snap of the contest. The second-year passer released a pass and then was hit by Ravens defensive lineman Calais Campbell, who dragged him to the ground.

Jones bent back awkwardly during the tackle and appeared to get his left leg stuck in the ground on the play. He was able to hop off the field but needed help from his teammates to get to the locker room.

Jones was immediately taken back into the locker room for X-rays, which turned out to be negative. The Patriots didn't need to replace him in Week 3 — the Ravens were able to run out the clock after intercepting Jones on New England's final offensive play — but now, they will have to prepare for life without him, at least short-term.

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Mac Jones injury timeline

Jones' ankle injury occurred on Sunday, Sept. 25, 2022 during the Patriots vs. Ravens game. He fell to the ground awkwardly after being hit on a late-game interception and exited the field as a result of the injury.

The injury to Jones occurred late in the contest, so coach Bill Belichick didn't have an update on his condition in the immediate aftermath of the Patriots' loss. The 70-year-old coach was similarly mum on him during a Monday morning videoconference.

"No update on him," Belichick said on Sept. 26, per SI.com. "We’ll go through the process and see where things are this morning. Nothing definitive at this point … Until we get more information, I’m not going to speculate wildly on what it would or wouldn’t be."

Later that night, it was reported that Jones had suffered a severe high-ankle sprain and would need to miss "multiple games" because of it. The Patriots have yet to officially announce a timetable for Jones' return.

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Mac Jones injury updates

Oct. 2: Brian Hoyer suffers a head injury against the Packers. Bailey Zappe is forced to enter the game in the first quarter.

Oct. 1: The Patriots declare Jones out for their game against the Packers despite the fact that he was seen throwing at practice on Friday. Brian Hoyer will start.

Sept. 28: Belichick says the team is taking it "day by day" as far as Jones' status. 

Sept. 26: Schefter reports that Jones is set to miss "multiple games" as a result of a "severe" high-ankle sprain.

Sept. 26: Belichick declines to provide a concrete update on Jones, saying that he is "not going to speculate wildly" on the status of his quarterback.

Sept. 25: The Patriots decline to provide an update on Jones but acknowledge that he is having X-rays on his injured ankle. The X-rays come back negative, and the "initial fear" is that Jones suffered a high-ankle sprain.

Sept. 25: Jones suffers an apparent leg injury against the Ravens. He limps off the field, unable to put weight on his left leg, and has to be helped into the locker room.

Jacob Camenker

Jacob Camenker Photo

Jacob Camenker first joined The Sporting News as a fantasy football intern in 2018 after his graduation from UMass. He became a full-time employee with TSN in 2021 and now serves as a senior content producer with a particular focus on the NFL. Jacob worked at NBC Sports Boston as a content producer from 2019 to 2021. He is an avid fan of the NFL Draft and ranked 10th in FantasyPros’ Mock Draft Accuracy metric in both 2021 and 2022.