Mac Jones talks about having fun at practice and how, as a QB, his attitude can impact the rest of the team
Mac Jones is making a lasting impression on his New England Patriots teammates with his performance at training camp.
As the Patriots' right tackle, Trent Brown has gotten an up-close look at many of the rookie quarterback's reps this summer. Judging by his comments after Tuesday's practice, he's been thoroughly impressed with what Jones has shown to this point.
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“I think he can be special,” Brown said, as transcribed by MassLive.com's Chris Mason. “There’s a lot going on for him right now. This is a different ballgame and with Bill (Belichick’s) defense there’s a lot of moving parts out there. So he’s just gotta settle down and I think he’ll be all right.”
Jones was a first-round pick, so the expectations were reasonably high for the 22-year-old heading into camp. Still, Brown has been enamored by Jones' passing ability, which he says is well beyond the Alabama product's years.
“To be so young, I think he makes some throws that not a lot of young guys can make,” Brown said. “I think it’s all about settling down, honestly, and knowing that you can still play the game. It’s still football. It’s a different level, yeah, but it’s still football.”
Time will tell whether Jones' standout camp will be enough to overtake Cam Newton on the QB depth chart. Even if he takes a back seat in 2021, Patriots fans should be encouraged by Brown's high praise for the young quarterback.