Tag: Jack Jones

5 takeaways from Patriots’ 27-24 loss to Packers

Here are 5 takeaways from the Patriots’ nail-biting loss to the Packers

The New England Patriots played their hardest but ultimately could not pull out a victory against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, losing 27-24 on a last-second overtime field goal in front of an enthusiastic crowd at Lambeau Field.

The biggest takeaway from the game? On any given Sunday, this Patriots team can scrape out a victory, despite whatever circumstances may be stacking the deck against them.

The Patriots came into the game already without starting quarterback Mac Jones, who reportedly suffered a high ankle sprain in last weekend’s loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Veteran backup Brian Hoyer started Sunday’s game against the Packers but was knocked out of the matchup late in the first quarter with a head injury, forcing rookie signal caller Bailey Zappe into his first career NFL appearance.

Zappe played admirably, making sure that he didn’t lose New England the game with any poor play. The matchup ultimately came down to a deflated Patriots defense trying to stop Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers in overtime. In the end, the legendary QB was the victor.

Here are five takeaways from Sunday’s game.

WATCH: Patriots CB Jack Jones takes Aaron Rodgers interception to the house

Jack Jones picked off Aaron Rodgers and took it to the house

The New England Patriots had their backs against the wall in the first half against the Green Bay Packers. However, a play from cornerback Jack Jones gave them the lead before they headed into the locker room.

Green Bay had a chance to head into the locker room with a lead of their own and tried to make something happen to put them in better field position. But the play ended up going in the other direction with Aaron Rodgers throwing a pass intended for Allen Lazard that was picked off and returned for a touchdown by Patriots rookie Jack Jones.

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It will be interesting to see how this game plays out, as injuries have been a prominent storyline to this point. Nevertheless, Jones’ play will be a highlight on this day for the Patriots.

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Jalen Mills says improvement of Patriots’ rookie cornerbacks is like ‘night and day’

Jack Jones and Marcus Jones are making a strong impression.

It has been pretty clear throughout training camp and the preseason that rookie cornerbacks Marcus Jones and Jack Jones would be two players capable of helping the New England Patriots defense right away.

Even veteran Jalen Mills, who projects as the No. 1 corner for the Patriots, admits the jump from OTAs and the first day of training camp has been like “night and day” for the first-year defensive backs.

“Oh man, it’s been night and day with those guys,” Mills told the media on Thursday, per NESN’s Zack Cox. “From the first day of OTAs to the first day of camp to now, just learning the ins and outs of the defenses, knowing where we’re weak and where we’re strong, and just going out there and playing fast — not hesitating and being who they are.”

Jack Jones stood out particularly in the preseason finale with his closing speed on tackles. He’s an aggressive cornerback that isn’t afraid to lower his helmet and lay the boom on a ball-carrier. There have been multiple instances where he has either broken up a pass or knocked the ball free.

And the same can be said for Marcus Jones, when it comes to being a disruptor in the defensive backfield.

The third-round pick out of Houston has constantly battled it out with Myles Bryant for the starting slot cornerback position. While his time hasn’t quite arrived just yet, the future is clearly bright for Marcus Jones.

The Patriots are leaning hard on youth this season with Malcolm Butler being released from injured reserve and Terrance Mitchell moving to the practice squad.

It’s a good thing that Mills and company feel confident in Marcus Jones, Jack Jones and even Shaun Wade as the last line of defense, if the injury bug starts biting.

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Patriots CB Jack Jones to get new number for 2022 season

Patriots corner Jack Jones will be getting a new number for the 2022 season.

New England Patriots cornerback Jack Jones will be switching to a new number with the regular season on the horizon. He will switch from No. 34 to No. 13, per ESPN’s Mike Reiss.

It’s been a summer of number switches for the defensive back. He wore No. 53 as a temporary number during training camp and No. 34 during the preseason. Now, No. 13 will be his designated number.

Some of the more notable Patriots to wear No. 13 include Phillip Dorsett from 2017-2019 and punter Ken Walter from 2001-2003.

Patriots fans may see Jack Jones’ No. 13 often with his stock continuing to rise. He is coming off a game against the Las Vegas Raiders that saw him stand out in what was a rough matchup for the Patriots overall. He recorded a pass breakup and a forced fumble.

New England’s secondary will get thrown into the fire in the season-opener against the Miami Dolphins. They will be put up against an offense that features Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. Jones could be a sizable part of the equation defensively, as the Patriots look to rebuild the cornerback position.

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Patriots’ carousel at cornerback is in full force in training camp

The Patriots are experimenting heavily with their CBs, from Malcolm Butler to Jalen Mills to Jack Jones.

The New England Patriots are still experimenting heavily with their secondary as they enter the padded portion of training camp. It’s common for New England to open competition at every position, but cornerback is a spot where the Patriots seem entirely uncertain.

During the team’s first padded practice on Monday, they deployed Jalen Mills, Joejuan Williams, Terrance Mitchell, Jack Jones and Malcolm Butler on the outside with the top defensive unit. In the slot, New England used Marcus Jones, Jonathan Jones and Myles Bryant. That slot spot will be a hotly contested position, which Jonathan Jones owned before suffering a season-ending ankle injury in 2021.

The first practice provided few clues on how these position battles will go. So let’s quickly whip around the position group to note where each player seems to stand as evaluation begins.

  • Jalen Mills: He stands alone in that he seems secure in his gig as one of the top cornerbacks. It’s not a done deal. But New England has given him the most snaps with the top unit and he has played well in those opportunities.
  • Terrance Mitchell: He had been practicing with the top unit going back to OTAs, but on Monday, the Patriots filtered in the other options as practice dragged along. Mitchell has been impressive in how quiet he’s been on the stat sheet. A good cornerback doesn’t show up — neither does his receiver. He has not been a shutdown cornerback, but he has been as consistent as any corner in the group.
  • Malcolm Butler: He has been Mitchell’s foil. Butler has probably been as inconsistent as any corner in the group — but the veteran has provided a few big plays. Monday’s practice was the perfect example, with Butler getting burnt deep in 11-on-11s and in 1-on-1s in matchups against DeVante Parker. Butler then rebounded with two pass breakups (including one near interception) in coverage on Parker and Tyquan Thornton. Maybe Butler has lost a step. Then again, maybe he’s just knocking off rust. We’ll see.
  • Jack Jones: He was up and down in OTAs, but spent a lot of time trailing Nelson Agholor, which is a solid assignment for a rookie cornerback. In camp, Jones has been up and down in that same way. It will be interesting to see whether, with time, Jones can grow consistent enough to compete for a spot in the starting unit.
  • Marcus Jones: He was the first man to take a snap in the slot for the padded session of 11-on-11s. But you can take that “first-team” designation with a grain of salt, because he was on the field with Joejuan Williams, who may not make the team. Marcus Jones, a 2022 third-round pick, will need to be special to steal snaps away from Jonathan Jones.
  • Shaun Wade: With Marcus Jones, Jonathan Jones and Myles Bryant dealing with injuries this offseason, Wade took most of the snaps in the slot in OTAs, minicamp and the early days of practice.
  • Jonathan Jones: If he’s healthy, he’ll start in the slot. But considering he’s coming off season-ending surgery at 28-years-old, there is a chance he is coming back slower and less agile.
  • Myles Bryant: For now, he is on the outside of the roster bubble looking in, just like Williams. New England wouldn’t have drafted the two Joneses if they believed in Bryant and Williams.

Before training camp, I predicted the Patriots would not pick starters at cornerback but would rotate heavily to begin the season. That possibility is still entirely in play.

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One rookie from each NFL team who will surprise in 2022

These rookies across the NFL could exceed expectations in Year 1 and make a significant impact this season

Every team expects a lot out of their top picks in the NFL draft, but they won’t be the only rookies who contribute in Year 1. There will be first-year players who emerge as valuable starters or key role players at some point this season.

It’s just difficult to predict which rookies will be the ones to step up and surprise both fans and analysts.

The NFL Wire network went team by team and selected one rookie who could be a pleasant surprise in 2022, highlighting players on an upward trajectory.

Despite being ‘a handful,’ Herm Edwards says Jack Jones is in good spot with Patriots

“He’s been a handful, but he’s a good kid. Loves football. Loves competing.”

The New England Patriots knew they needed to add depth at the cornerback position following the departure of J.C. Jackson.

Bill Belichick didn’t go early in the draft, but he did select Marcus Jones in the third round and Jack Jones in the fourth round. Marcus is a utility player out of Houston that can do many different things on the field, ranging from punt returns to even playing some offense. Jack is a gritty cornerback that would’ve likely had a higher draft stock without some of his past off-field issues.

Jack played for two seasons at USC and eventually left after having academic issues and being arrested for breaking into a Panda Express. He later went to Arizona State and did a little better, but was suspended after a fight in practice.

His agent sent a letter to all 32 NFL teams with the ways that he will prevent off-field issues going forward. Belichick bought in and now has a solid cornerback from the lower rounds of the draft.

Herm Edwards was Jack’s college coach and he discussed his former cornerback while talking with ESPN’s Mike Reiss.

“It’s a good spot for him, as there will be people there to keep the thumb on him,” Edwards said. “I told him, ‘You’re at a place now where you have to check all the boxes.’ He’s been a handful, but he’s a good kid. Loves football. Loves competing. Once he’s in the building, on the field, he’s all about football now.”

Jack spent some time in mandatory minicamp competing with the starters alongside Jalen Mills. He has real potential to land in the starting lineup as a rookie.

“He’s a very explosive athlete. Very competitive. He has pretty good ball skills, finding and turning and locating the ball,” Edwards said. “He has good anticipation. Sometimes his eyes get him in trouble, because he’s on a mission to intercept balls and he’ll guess a little bit. And weight-wise [177 pounds], you’d wish he’d be a little bit bigger. But he’s not afraid to tackle. He’ll throw his body at people.”

If Jack can avoid off-field issues, he could be a steal for the Patriots in the fourth round.

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Former NFL scout has glowing review of Patriots drafting CB Jack Jones

Jack Jones a was a steal in the eyes of some NFL personnel.

The New England Patriots had an intriguing 2022 draft, as several fans and experts had mixed reactions to the team’s selections. However, one particular pick was viewed as a steal by a former NFL scout.

The Patriots selected cornerback Jack Jones in the fourth round with the 121st overall pick. He comes to New England after a successful season at Arizona State in 2021.

Jones tallied 41 combined tackles, three interceptions, and six pass deflections in 11 games for the Sun Devils. He proved to be a ball hawk in other aspects as well, recording three forced fumbles on the season.

Longtime scout and front office executive TJ McCreight offered his thoughts on Jones. Jones’ versatility and instincts are two of the biggest things that could work, as New England tries to remake the secondary.

“Outstanding instincts and eyes,” McCreight said of Jones on the “Ross Tucker Football Podcast,” as transcribed by ESPN. “A tremendous feel for routes, and outstanding ball skills and hands.

“He has the physical ability. He’s big enough (5-foot-10 6/8). He’s fast enough. You see him do some little things. He’s blocked punts in high school. He’s blocked kicks in his career.

“He has ball production; he can catch. He had a pick-six (vs. Arizona), heaved the ball into the stands. He’s got some moxie. … To me, that was a steal because he’s going to get coached well in New England now. And you have a guy who is a playmaker.”

The Patriots do have options in the secondary. New England added Malcolm Butler and Terrence Mitchell to the cornerback room this offseason. Jalen Mills will look to provide a steadfast presence as he enters his second season with the Patriots. Mills is not a new face, however. His leadership may be important as the Patriots try to incorporate these new pieces at the position.

Jones could be in line for an impactful rookie year, as New England tries to replace J.C. Jackson. Although Jones may end up becoming a slot corner, stability and production will be important. With offensive weapons all over the AFC East, solid secondary play is crucial.

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Jack Jones plans to ‘gain some weight’ and, in the meantime, ‘play big as big as possible’

Cornerback Jack Jones definitely played big during the offseason program.

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The New England Patriots haven’t treated cornerback Jack Jones like a developmental rookie.

Maybe he’s on the smaller side, weighing just 175 pounds. Maybe he was a fourth-round pick. But in minicamp and organized team activities, the Patriots gave Jones more and more work with the first-team defense. His college coach at Herm Edwards said he thinks Jones could be a CB1 — and in short time. But OTAs and minicamp are unpadded and with no contact. A lighter player has an easier path to shine. When training camp rolls around, the Patriots will strap on pads. That’ll be a totally new test for Jones.

Will he be working to get bigger in the next month?

“Of course I need to add some weight. I’m a little small but I try to play as big as possible” Jones said after practice on Wednesday.

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Jones spent Day 2 of minicamp blanketing receiver Nelson Agholor, who looks reinvigorated in the Patriots offense after a rough first season with the team. Jones, however, kept pace with the veteran receiver. Agholor got the better of Jones for a long reception of, maybe, 50 yards. But Jones managed a pass breakup and a few other big plays in coverage of Aghlor.

“I knew Nelly before I got up here. I used to see him at USC,” Jones said, having attended USC and ASU during his college years. “I love competing with him. We just make each other better and just keep stacking up days.”

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Report: Patriots sign rookie CB Jack Jones to four-year deal

New England agreed to a deal with rookie cornerback Jack Jones on Thursday.

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The New England Patriots signed rookie cornerback Jack Jones to a four-year contract on Thursday afternoon, according to his agent Jamaal Tooson.

Jones was New England’s fourth-round selection, and one of 10 draft picks overall. Jones becomes the sixth player to sign with the team, leaving four players from the 2022 draft class unsigned.

Jones began his college football career at USC , before finding a permanent role at Arizona State. He established his role as a versatile corner, recording 42 tackles, 2.5 tackles for a loss, three forced fumbles and three interceptions in three seasons with the Sun Devils.

New England will need his versatility, as they look to revamp their secondary following the departure of J.C. Jackson. Jones could play a role in New England’s future, as the Patriots look to usher in a new era on the defensive side of the football.

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