Mac makes mark with teammates
‘Commands the respect’ of veterans like Slater
FOXBORO — The public praise for Mac Jones out of Patriots camp started as a murmur.
He works hard. He studies. He’s quiet, but in control, they said.
In the spring, that’s all Jones’ teammates really could say about a rookie quarterback who hadn’t played a preseason NFL game, let alone put pro pads on.
Then training camp started, and the voices grew louder. How Jones showed command at the line, could chide receivers after bad plays, and bounce back from poor practices.
Now through two preseason games, he’s completed better than 68% of his passes for 233 yards, still thrown a catchable ball on most of his incompletions and taken control of the starting offense in practice with Cam Newton out. After bouncing back yet again from a so-so practice Monday, Jones diced the Patriots defense for most of a shortsand-shells session Tuesday, and his teammates’ praise is as loud as ever.
“I think he’s been progressing really well,” said tight end Jonnu Smith. “Just taking everything from the meeting rooms, on the fields, and just executing it. You can just tell he’s getting comfortable, and he’s settling in. Everything’s going to work out for him. He’s a hard worker, so I’m looking forward to seeing him do great things.”
Smith caught two touchdowns from Jones over Tuesday’s practice, including one at the end of a simulated 2-minute drill with six seconds left on the clock. The two have developed a rapid chemistry. Jones’ ability to connect with teammates on and off the field — even those more than 10 years older than him — has been an early calling card.
“I think Mac is a fine young man,” said 35-yearold special teams captain Matthew Slater. “His family should be proud of the way that they raised him, and the way he carries himself. The way that he commands the respect of even guys like myself — older guys that have been here for a while. He’s earned that respect by the way that he’s gone about his craft. So, he’s been a joy to work with.”
Patriots outside linebacker Matthew Judon had some fun with Jones during practice, running toward him after another touchdown pass to talk trash. Jones chirped back at Judon playfully, even though his 20yard spiral to Jakobi Meyers in the end zone had clearly said enough — much like his entire summer to date.
“I think he understands when he needs to be assertive and when he doesn’t. When he needs to be talking and when he doesn’t. … Everything they’ve been giving him, he’s taken it in stride,” Judon said. “He’s handled everything well.”
Pats claim TE, cut 5
The Patriots claimed former Texans tight end Kahale Warring off waivers and released linebacker Cassh Maluia, wide receiver Devin Ross, safety Malik Gant, offensive lineman RJ Prince and long snapper Brian Khoury to meet the NFL’s 80-man roster deadline Tuesday.
Offensive lineman Marcus Martin was also placed on injured reserve.
Warring, a 2019 thirdround pick from San Diego State, was released after two injury-riddled seasons in Houston. He lost his rookie year to a concussion, then was again limited by injury in 2020, catching three passes for 35 yards on seven targets. Warring entered the league as a raw talent, who only started playing football as a senior in high school.
The 6-foot-5, 251-pounder ran a 4.6 in the 40-yard dash and showed above-average athleticism with his vertical and broad jumps at the NFL Combine. That physical talent never translated in Houston, where former Pats executive Nick Caserio, now the Texans general manager, released him this week. Warring was limited to four snaps in the team’s last preseason game against Dallas.
Warring was beat out by former Patriots seventhround pick Ryan Izzo among other tight ends this summer. He joins Hunter Henry, Smith, 2020 third-round pick Devin Asiasi and Matt LaCosse in the Patriots’ tight ends room.
None of the players released Tuesday expected to make the final 53-man roster next week. NFL teams were required to trim their roster to 80 players by 4 p.m.
Prince and Ross were both offensive reserves who repped regularly with the scout-team and secondstring offense in practices.
Gant signed midway through training camp, practicing once before the Pats’ first preseason game on Aug. 12 against Washington. He also played last week at Philadelphia. Khoury’s exit coincided with the return of veteran long snapper Joe Cardona on Monday. Khoury signed two weeks ago, soon after Cardona left a training camp practice with an undisclosed injury.
Slater excited for Judge reunion
The Patriots and Giants will hold their first of two joint practices today at 10 a.m., with former special teams coordinator Joe Judge leading his new team into
Foxboro for the first time.
Aside from Bill Belichick, no one spent more time with Judge over his eight seasons with the Patriots than special teams captain Slater.
Speaking after practice Tuesday, Slater credited Judge with boosting his confidence. Judge joined the Patriots in 2012 as a special teams assistant, then was promoted to special teams coordinator in 2015. He later added the title of wide receivers coach in 2019, before the Giants hired him away in January 2020.
“Early in my career, I didn’t have a ton of belief in myself as a player. I struggled. I think (former Pats special teams coordinator) Scott O’Brien and Joe Judge both did a great job of instilling belief in me. Challenging me in ways that I didn’t like at times but it made me better. And just coaching me hard,” Slater said.
“No matter what I did, no matter how well I played, how poorly I played, they always challenged me. And Joe was always very adamant about me continuing to work to improve, no matter where I was at in my career.
Looking ahead, Judge, who’s become known for his fiery, physical practices in New York, is expecting the same mentality back home.
“I expect it to be a highly competitive practice. I’m sure we’ll be covering a lot of special teams situations, so we look forward to that,” Slater said. “It’s just gonna make us better on both sides, and we’ll have to see how it goes.”