Mac Jones, who is facing a possible fine from the league for his low hit on Eli Apple during Saturday’s loss, says he wasn’t trying to hurt the Bengals cornerback.
He was just trying to make a play.
On his weekly appearance on WEEI’s “Merloni, Fauria & Mego” show, Jones was asked to explain what he was trying to do on the hit in question.
Jones appeared to fumble the football on what was eventually ruled an incomplete pass.
During the return by linebacker Germaine Pratt, who picked up the loose ball, Jones went low to make a block, taking out Apple’s legs. Apple was trying to advance to make a block on Patriots WR Tyquan Thornton, who was the closest Patriot in pursuit of Pratt.
“Obviously, I went down in front of him to kind of get in the way to stop him from slowing down Tyquan, who could obviously make the tackle there,” Jones explained. “So I went went down in front of him, trying to stop a fast guy from getting to another fast guy. Just a split-second decision. There’s a lot that goes into it.
“You’re out there trying to compete. It’s a physical game. I’m just trying to help the team win.”
Apple called it a “dirty play,” but Jones said he’d never try to deliberately injure anyone.
“I have all the respect for Eli and the Bengals,” said Jones. “They played a great game. There’s no hard feelings and definitely no intention to hurt anybody on that play, nor do I believe that when I’m playing quarterback . . . I get hit a lot, too. So we’re all out there playing hard. It’s just part of the game.”
The NFL prohibits low blocks after a change of possession. Jones indicated he didn’t know the play had been waved dead.
“I was just playing the play. I saw Tyquan running, and Eli running to get him,” said Jones. “At that point, you gotta play the play, play it all the way through cuz you don’t know what’s happening. (Whether they’d going to ) review it, or not review it. Just had to play it through and try and make the right play and slow everything down.”
The league is currently evaluating the play and a ruling on a possible should be known by the end of the week.
