After a mere one game in the NFL, New England Patriots linebacker Kyle Van Noy is already seeing plenty of promise in rookie quarterback Mac Jones.
The Patriots’ first-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft made his first career start in his team’s narrow 17-16 loss to the Miami Dolphins in Week 1. He finished the game with 281 passing yards, one passing touchdown and a passer rating of 102.6.
Van Noy believes that the sky is the limit for Jones, but it will be a process for the rookie quarterback to make his place in the league. In speaking to NBC Sports Boston’s “Patriots Talk Podcast,” Van Noy offered his take on Jones at this early stage in the season.
“I think Mac is going to be great,” Van Noy said. “Our team is going to get there one step at a time. We've just got to focus on the Jets this week.”
After Jones connected with new Patriots wide receiver Nelson Agholor for his first career passing touchdown, he declined to keep the ball, which he noted after the game that it is just “one touchdown.” Van Noy recommends that Jones should loosen up a bit at times, but he also understands on where the former Alabama Crimson Tide star is coming from.
“I was like, ‘C'mon, Mac. You can be a little excited,'” Van Noy said. “But I respect it and I respect what he said. I respect that he's like, it's the first one but there's a lot of work to be done. I feel him in that regard. He's trying to be a really good football player and he's a leader on our team.”
Jones will be under hefty pressure to help the Patriots avoid an 0-2 start in Week 2 against the Jets.
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