Will Grier might get his chance to be the Patriots’ unlikely hero.
If Patriots quarterback Mac Jones continues to struggle this week against the Raiders, one Boston journalist believes, the job will go to the third-string quarterback — who hasn’t appeared in an NFL game since 2019 with Carolina — instead of backup Bailey Zappe.
“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 Grier’s,” Greg Bedard of Boston Sports Journal said during Tuesday’s installment of the “Felger & Mazz” show on 98.5 The Sports Hub.
Head coach Bill Belichick said Wednesday that Jones will remain the starter when the Patriots visit the Raiders in Week 6 in what could be a must-win game.
That came after Belichick pulled Jones in the second half of the Patriots’ ugly 34-0 home loss to the Saints.
It marked the second consecutive week that the former first-round pick was replaced by Zappe, who also took over in a blowout loss to the Cowboys in Week 4.
Jones completed just 12-of-22 passes for 110 yards and two interceptions against New Orleans. He also lost a fumble in the third quarter that set up a Saints’ field goal.
The third-year quarterback had six turnovers over the past two weeks.
However, Zappe — who was cut and then re-signed by New England before Week 1 — hasn’t impressed either.
Zappe was overthrowing to receivers on his way to completing 3-of-9 passes for 22 yards.
“Everyone’s frustrated, of course we’re frustrated,” Jones said after the loss to New Orleans. “At the end of the day, you have to turn that into action.”
Now, some believe Grier could be New England’s best bet for a turnaround after a 1-4 start to the season.
Grier, 28, signed with the Bengals practice squad in August before the Patriots signed him in September following the release of quarterbacks Matt Corral and Ian Book.
A third-round pick out of West Virginia in the 2019 NFL Draft, Grier spent the first two seasons of his career with the Carolina Panthers.
Grier later spent the 2021 and 2022 seasons with the Dallas Cowboys.