Pats QB Jones ruled out vs. Packers
Patriots quarterback Mac Jones was ruled out for Sunday’s game at Green Bay despite making a surprise return to the practice field.
Jones was in uniform Friday with his injured left ankle wrapped tightly as he moved gingerly during the brief portion of the workout open to media.
It was his first time on the practice field after sitting out the first two sessions of the week. But he was listed as a non-participant in the workout on the official injury report.
Coach Bill Belichick said earlier in the week that if Jones couldn’t go, veteran backup Brian Hoyer would start in his place against the Packers.
Hoyer has lost his last 11 NFL starts and is 16-23 as a starter. The most recent start came in 2020 for New England in its loss at Kansas City. He stepped in that day for Cam Newton, who was out with COVID-19. Rookie third-string quarterback Bailey Zappe is also expected to be active for the first time this season to back up Hoyer.
SAINTS: Saints backup quarterback Andy Dalton is expected to start after Jameis Winston was listed as doubtful for New Orleans’ game Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.
Dalton took first-team snaps again Friday with Winston missing a third consecutive practice because of a back injury.
“I’ll be ready if my number is called,” Dalton said. “I’ve been in this situation before where you’re the backup and have to step in and play.”
Saints first-year coach Dennis Allen said they’ll wait until the last minute, but he doubts Winston will play.
“Our plan right now is to have Andy ready to go,” Allen said. “He’s performed at a high level in our league and that’s really one of the big reasons why we brought him here is in case he’s called upon, we feel highly confident that he can go in and do the job.”
Dalton has played twice before in London as the starter for the Cincinnati Bengals. They lost 24-10 to the Los Angeles Rams in 2019, three years after a 27-27 tie against Washington, then led by current Vikings QB Kirk Cousins.
PANTHERS: Carolina coach Matt Rhule said he is “very hopeful” that running back Christian McCaffrey will play Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals after missing the last two days of practice with a quad injury.
McCaffrey returned to practice on a limited basis Friday
and is listed as questionable on the team’s injury report. He ran, cut and caught passes during the 20 minutes of practice that were open to the media inside the team’s bubble.
“He looked good out there today,” Rhule said. “Unless something comes up I’m sure he will give his best chance to go. We are very hopeful.”
When asked how he feels and if he expects to play Sunday, McCaffrey replied: “I feel great.”
He repeated the same answer several times on various follow up questions, clearly not wanting to elaborate on his health.
McCaffrey enters Week 4 tied for fifth in the NFL in the league in rushing and is coming off back-to-back 100yard rushing games against the New York Giants and New Orleans Saints.