(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
So far, 2023 has been a miserable season for the New England Patriots, the likes of which they haven’t experienced in many years.
They have a 1-4 record heading into Week 6, and quarterback Mac Jones, who not too long ago was thought to be a worthy successor to the legendary Tom Brady, is struggling.
Jones has already been benched this season, and reportedly, the Patriots may go with Will Grier if Jones has another bad outing versus the Las Vegas Raiders this weekend, per Dov Kleiman.
RUMORS: The #Patriots may start veteran Will Grier over Mac Jones if Jones continues to struggle, per @GregABedard https://t.co/gdvWAME9YE
“From talking to people around the team, I think if Mac Jones doesn’t succeed this week, if he doesn’t retain his job, I think it’s Will… https://t.co/WQpwH1UuKl pic.twitter.com/RXOlc7yggk
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) October 12, 2023
Jones has completed only 62.5 percent of his passes and has thrown more interceptions (six) than touchdown passes (five), and thus it isn’t too surprising New England is last in the NFL in points.
Another problem they have on offense is their lack of productive wide receivers — their only player at that position who has over 200 receiving yards through five games is Kendrick Bourne.
JuJu Smith-Schuster, a free agent pickup from the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs who was supposed to be a viable replacement for Jakobi Meyers, has just 14 catches for 86 yards.
Last season, Smith-Schuster collected 78 receptions for 933 yards, making him Kansas City’s most productive wideout.
Amidst the Patriots’ struggles, there have been rumors that longtime head coach Bill Belichick, long regarded as the mastermind behind their dynastic teams, could be on the hot seat.
Belichick has been their head coach since the 2000 season, and perhaps he has lost some of his previous luster due to his team’s struggles ever since the legendary Tom Brady departed following the 2019 campaign.
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