How does Patriots locker room view QB Mac Jones?

The era of Mac Jones starting at quarterback for the New England Patriots may have ended during Sunday's 10-6 loss to the Indianapolis Colts in Germany that dropped the Patriots to 2-8 heading into their bye.

"Yes, absolutely," MassLive Patriots reporter Mark Daniels responded when asked if "the Patriots have lost faith in Jones" during the latest "Eye on Foxborough" podcast. 

"So, after the game, I like to observe people. ... I’m watching Mac, and I noticed that when he came to the locker room and he was changing, he was sitting down kind of getting stuff ready to go," Daniels explained. "No one talked to him. Guys were walking by him looking at the floor, not looking at him. I saw a couple guys give him these quick, awkward glances and immediately looked down at their feet. It was brutally awkward in there around him. And after that, he goes to talk to the podium where his voice is really cracky. It kind of sounded like he wanted to cry." 

It was reported last week that Jones has "really infuriated people" within the Patriots this season with his decision-making, hasn't taken to coaching and "has lost some players in the room" since the beginning of last season. On Sunday, he completed 15-of-20 passes for 170 yards with no touchdowns and a brutal, back-breaking interception that resulted in head coach Bill Belichick benching the 25-year-old for a third time this season. 

Per Patriots beat reporter Zack Cox of NESN, Belichick declined to confirm during a Monday video conference who will start at quarterback when New England plays at the New York Giants (2-8) on Nov. 26. 

Backup Bailey Zappe replaced Jones for New England's final offensive drive against the Colts but threw a pass into triple coverage that was intercepted. Patriots reporter Chris Mason of MassLive liked how Jones reacted to becoming a spectator on Sunday even though it may not matter in the long run. 

"I was watching him after we had a feeling after that pick that he was gonna get benched and Bailey got up on the sideline, he starts throwing," Mason said about Jones during the podcast. "So I think it’s always fascinating to watch players when that’s going on where like, he gets the, 'Hey, you’re done. Bailey’s going in,' and so on. He walked up to every single person on the offense, gave them a fist bump and said something to him. He was being a captain in that moment. But I don’t know how many times you can say whatever you’re saying before it falls on deaf ears if the results aren’t there." 

ESPN stats show Jones is ranked 25th in the NFL with a 39.1 adjusted QBR and 27th with an 80.2 passer rating on the season. He and Jordan Love of the Green Bay Packers have tossed a league-worst 10 interceptions.

Starting Zappe at the Giants could perhaps inject some life into a locker room that allegedly no longer believes Jones is the right man to lead the offense. Regardless of that call, it seems likely the Patriots will decline the fifth-year option on Jones' rookie contract.