The Patriots are looking to keep their momentum rolling against the Browns in Week 6, but it is still unknown who will start at quarterback.
Second-year starter Mac Jones has been sidelined since Week 3 with a high-ankle sprain but has made progress toward a return after logging back-to-back weeks as a limited participant at practice. Interim starting quarterback Bailey Zappe has held it down in his absence, throwing for 287 yards and two touchdowns while completing 75 percent of his passes over the past two games.
New England will travel to Cleveland to take on a Browns team that has lost two consecutive one-possession games.
Will Jones make his return for the Patriots in Week 6? Here's everything we know:
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Is Mac Jones playing vs. Browns?
After logging three limited practices this week, Jones is listed as questionable for Sunday's showdown in Cleveland.
In typical Bill Belichick fashion, the Patriots head coach wouldn't show his hand when asked who would start at quarterback in Week 6.
"Mac, I think, is making good improvement, and we’ll see where he is today,” Belichick said Friday before practice. "Certainly, he (did) a lot more this Thursday than he did last Thursday, and I imagine Friday, same thing. But we’ll see."
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For what it's worth, Jones also logged three limited practices ahead of New England's Week 5 matchup with the Lions but was eventually ruled out. With backup Brian Hoyer (concussion) also out, Zappe made his first career start. He threw for 188 yards and a touchdown in the Pats' 29-0 home win.
Patriots QB depth chart
The Patriots have maxed out their quarterback depth chart this season, having already used three starting QBs because of injuries. Jones suffered a high-ankle sprain on the final play of New England's home loss to the Ravens in Week 3. That lined up veteran backup Hoyer to start in Week 4 against the Packers.
Hoyer went down with a concussion in the first half at Lambeau Field, forcing New England to go to third-string rookie Zappe to finish the game. Zappe held his own, going score-for-score with Aaron Rodgers before the Patriots fell to the Packers on a game-winning field goal as time expired in overtime.
With Jones still recovering and Hoyer placed on injured reserve, Zappe made his first career start in Week 5 and led the Patriots to a blowout win over the Lions.
If Jones is unable to suit up for Week 6 against the Browns, Zappe will remain the starter, with Garrett Gilbert likely to be elevated from the practice squad to serve as the backup.
| Rank | Player |
|---|---|
| 1 | Mac Jones |
| 2 | Bailey Zappe |
| 3 | Garrett Gilbert |
| 4 | Brian Hoyer (injured) |
