Patriots' Joe Judge working with Mac Jones, other QBs

When the New England Patriots announced in February they hired former New York Giants head coach and former New England special teams coordinator and wide receivers coach Joe Judge to serve as an offensive assistant, many questioned what Judge's role with the club would be. It was then later reported that Judge would be working with quarterback Mac Jones and other New England signal-callers moving forward. 

Judge confirmed that news on Monday but also left some questions answered. 

"In terms of who is coaching each position, you'll see me on the field with the quarterbacks," Judge explained, according to Mike Reiss of ESPN. "I am working with Mac, along with all the skill group on offense. I'd say all of us are working collectively as a coaching unit with the entire offense. So that's the most direct and specific answer I can give you on that. ... It's been a main emphasis for us as a coaching staff, we want to make sure we can coach all the players and that nobody is out there with a lack of knowledge in the offense."

Judge and former Detroit Lions head coach and current Patriots senior football adviser Matt Patricia are thought to be the leading candidates to replace former offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels as New England's top offensive play-caller. It appears head coach Bill Belichick isn't ready for the public to know who may hold that job when preseason games begin. 

"Look, I'll tell you directly and honestly right now, nothing has been declared or decided or voiced to me. ... In terms of who calls plays, to be honest with you, that's not the main focus right now," Judge added during his comments. "When Coach wants to go ahead and declare a role like that, he'll tell us."

Patricia, meanwhile, said he's "been working with the offensive line, which has been great for me." 

As Myles Simmons pointed out for Pro Football Talk, it's possible Belichick simply doesn't want his plans made known to other teams ahead of the Memorial Day holiday for whatever reasons. Perhaps Belichick won't officially name a play-caller before August.