The New England Patriots can breathe a little bit easier with quarterback Mac Jones appearing on the practice field for the first time since suffering that ugly ankle injury against the Baltimore Ravens.
There has been talk throughout the week of Jones’ ankle responding well to treatment enough for him to potentially suit up and play in Week 4 against the Green Bay Packers. The second-year quarterback has been diagnosed with a “severe” high ankle sprain, which is typically an injury that keeps players out for up to six weeks.
And yet, Jones appears fully intent on pushing to start on Sunday.
Didn’t see much movement from Mac Jones during the brief open media portion of practice. Heavy tape on that ankle.
Patriots will announce his participation level when they release their final injury report this afternoon. pic.twitter.com/9qmIAAbigX
— Zack Cox (@ZackCoxNESN) September 30, 2022
Backup quarterback Brian Hoyer is still likely to start against the Packers with Jones possibly coming back sooner, depending on how his ankle continues to respond to treatment.
But him being back on the practice field is no guarantee that a return is necessarily imminent. However, per the Boston Herald’s Karen Guregian, the ankle injury doesn’t appear to be as bad as initially thought.
Guregian wrote:
“The reported severity of Jones’ high ankle sprain appears to have been overstated.”
Even if Jones isn’t able to suit up for the game against the Packers, the possibility of him returning sooner than expected provides at least a glimmer of hope for the Patriots’ season.
