Mac Jones may have leaked Patriots' QB plan for Giants game

Quarterback Mac Jones may have intentionally or unintentionally revealed he'll start over backups Bailey Zappe and Will Grier when the 2-8 New England Patriots play at the 3-8 New York Giants this coming Sunday. 

"I hope so," Jones responded when asked if he'll be New England's QB1 against the Giants, per Chris Mason of MassLive. "I mean, that’s the plan, I think. I always work really hard for that. Really put a lot of attention and detail into the week." 

After Patriots head coach Bill Belichick hinted Tuesday that he may wait until Sunday to confirm his depth chart for the Giants game, NFL insider Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated suggested that Belichick could embrace an "anyone but Mac" mindset coming off the bye because players allegedly "have lost confidence in" Jones. 

However, ESPN's Dan Graziano noted for a piece published Wednesday morning that "it felt like the most likely outcome was that Jones would get another start but that Zappe would be ready to come in if Jones' issues (such as failing to keep his eyes downfield when he spots the rush) show up early." Belichick has already pulled Jones from three contests this season, most recently in the fourth quarter of the 10-6 loss to the Indianapolis Colts in Germany on Nov. 12. 

"We’ve had good conversations, and really what I’ve been focusing on is what I can control," Jones said about his interactions with his coaches amid preparations for the Giants game. "Put a lot of thought into that: Things I can control throughout the year, in the past, in the future, and right now it’s today. Really focused on having good walkthroughs — which we did and — and having good practice. So that’s what I can do: Control what I can control." 

After Jones offered his latest comments on New England's quarterback situation, oddschecker listed the club as a three-point favorite against Big Blue. It sounds like Jones could be on a short leash at MetLife Stadium assuming he didn't relegate himself to the bench by possibly sharing Belichick's plan ahead of Thanksgiving.