Former Alabama QB Mac Jones set to make 2nd start with Jacksonville

Former Alabama QB Mac Jones will be the Jacksonville Jaguars’ starting quarterback again in Week 11.

Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson confirmed that Trevor Lawrence will miss another game. The Jaguars will turn to Jones again.

Jones, a Jacksonville native and product of the Bolles School before playing for Alabama, spent his first 3 professional seasons with the New England Patriots. Jones was benched during the 2023 season and traded to Jacksonville in the offseason.

In the Jaguars’ 12-7 loss to the Minnesota Vikings this past Sunday, Jones was 14-of-22 passing for 111 yards with 2 interceptions. He had a rushing touchdown, Jacksonville’s only score of the game.

Pederson expects Jones to embrace the opportunity to rebound against the Detroit Lions.

“He’s excited to have another opportunity,” Pederson said in his Wednesday press conference. “Obviously, a chance for him to rebound from last week. But I think as a team, same way. Rally around him and support him and get ready to play a really good football team.”

While Jones had a rough showing in his first start as a Jaguar, the club is happy to have a backup quarterback with experience on the roster.

“One, he’s a veteran quarterback, so he’s played,” Pederson told reporters. “He’s started in this league. He knows how to handle that. I think, two, leadership-wise with the guys, you see him communicate with the players on and off the field, with us as coaches as well.

“I think the third thing is how well he does communicate with us when it comes to the game plan – what he likes, what he doesn’t like. And then just his overall work ethic, how he prepares for these games I think really gives him the best opportunity.”

Jacksonville at Detroit is set for 1 p.m. ET on Sunday, airing on CBS.

Andrew Olson

Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.