Could Patriots go back to Mac Jones over Bailey Zappe?

New England Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien spoke with reporters on Tuesday about whether benched quarterback Mac Jones could replace fill-in Bailey Zappe with the 3-11 club out of postseason contention. 

"I think everybody’s gotta be ready to play, especially in the situation we’re in," O’Brien insisted, as shared by Karen Guregian of MassLive. "I really do. I think that everybody has to be ready to go. Anybody that’s on the 53-man roster has to go out on the practice field and practice well and earn a shot to play. That’s whether you’re a quarterback, wide receiver, tight end, running back or offensive lineman." 

New England head coach Bill Belichick pulled Jones from four of 11 games this season amid the club's struggles before placing Zappe atop the depth chart for the past three contests -- a 6-0 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, a 21-18 win at the Pittsburgh Steelers and this past Sunday's 27-17 home defeat against the Kansas City Chiefs. 

It's assumed Zappe will get the nod for the upcoming Sunday night game at the 7-7 Denver Broncos. 

"You have to be ready to go, because if you practice really well, you’re going to have a real shot to play," O’Brien added on Tuesday. "I think that goes for every position." 

Across 11 games this season, Jones completed 64.9% of 345 pass attempts for 2,120 yards with 10 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. To compare, Zappe has connected on 60.2% of 123 passes for 719 yards with four touchdowns and four picks in seven games and three starts. 

Jones reportedly had the support of team owner Robert Kraft this past offseason, and it's widely believed Kraft could part ways with Belichick as soon as the NFL's "Black Monday" after Week 18. The Patriots spent a first-round draft pick on Jones in the spring of 2021, so it's understandable Kraft may want to see the 25-year-old back on the field this season over Zappe, a 2022 fourth-round choice. 

With that said, it seems likely neither Jones nor Zappe is New England's long-term answer at the position as outlets such as CBS Sports link the Patriots with USC Trojans star Caleb Williams, Drake Maye of the North Carolina Tar Heels and LSU Tigers quarterback Jayden Daniels in updated mock drafts.