New England Patriots wide receiver Jakobi Meyers (16) address the team's quarterback situation. Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports

Patriots WR Jakobi Meyers reacts to Mac Jones getting benched

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 10/25/22

Mac Jones got the start at quarterback for the New England Patriots during their Week 7 "Monday Night Football" contest against the Chicago Bears, but his outing didn't last long. Coming off of a high-ankle sprain suffered in Week 3, Jones missed the team's last three games, and after backup Brian Hoyer went down with a concussion, rookie Bailey Zappe took over under center the last two-plus games leading into Monday.

It was reported ahead of the primetime matchup between Chicago and New England that there was a chance that fans would see both Jones and Zappe taking snaps. That ended up being true, as Jones got the start, but went just 3-for-6 for 13 yards, while throwing once interception, before being replaced by Zappe after three offensive possessions.

"It's tough to see somebody who worked so hard get that kind of treatment"

Jakobi Meyers on the Patriots QB situation pic.twitter.com/IP9rpJZxd7
— NBC Sports Boston's Patriots Coverage (@NBCSPatriots) October 25, 2022

"I would say it's a shock, but we don't really have time to focus on it too much," Meyers added. "The bullets are already flying by the time we realized it. You have to go out there and keep making plays."

After back-to-back three-and-outs to start the eventual 33-14 New England loss, fans at Gillette Stadium began chanting "Zappe! Zappe!"

"You hate to see one of your brothers treated like that," Meyers said. "You want to see him do well. You want to see everybody do well, including Zappe, but as far as getting caught up in it, you really don't have time to really focus on the decisions being made."

While the rookie started out hot -- leading the Patriots on a pair of touchdown drives -- he faltered in the second half, finishing with a pair of interceptions and a fumble lost as well. After the loss, head coach Bill Belichick continued to act coy when it came to announcing a Week 8 starter.

When asked who will start the next game at QB for the #Patriots, Bill Belichick declined to name Mac Jones his starter.

His answer when asked who's the starter: "We just finished the game."

Also added Mac Jones wasn't pulled for a medical reason but wouldn't call it benching.
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) October 25, 2022