Mac Jones receives rare honor for rookie QB
Mac Jones isn’t quite done playing football in his rookie season. On Sunday night, the Patriots announced Jones has been named to the 2022 Pro Bowl as an alternate selection.
Jones, drafted 15th overall by the Patriots back in May, led all rookie quarterbacks in just about every major statistical passing category in 2021. He completed 67.6 percent of his passes for 3,801 yards with 22 touchdowns to 13 interceptions. With Jones under center, the Patriots ranked sixth in the NFL in scoring averaging 27.2 points per game.
Originally voted into the game, Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is not playing due to injury. That opened the spot for Jones after Bills quarterback Josh Allen declined an invitation. Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, another likely alternate, is now ineligible as he’ll be preparing for Super Bowl LVI.
Assuming he plays, Jones would be just the 10th rookie quarterback to play in the Pro Bowl since the merger, and the first since Dak Prescott in 2016. Six of the previous nine were also selected as alternates. Jones is also the fourth Patriots player of any position to make the Pro Bowl as a rookie, after safety Devin McCourty (2010), running backs Curtis Martin (1995) and John Stephens (1988) and cornerback Mike Haynes (1976).
With Jones added to the game, the Patriots will now have four players representing them in the Pro Bowl. He joins linebacker Matthew Judon, cornerback J.C. Jackson, and specialist Matthew Slater. He’ll be the first Patriots quarterback to participate in the game since Tom Brady in 2010 (Brady declined a number of invites or was ineligible due to Super Bowl appearances for much of the second half of his career).
The 2022 Pro Bowl will take play Sunday, Feb. 6, in the week between the conference championship games and the Super Bowl. This year’s game is being held in Las Vegas.
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Alex Barth is a writer and digital producer for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Thoughts? Comments? Questions? Looking for a podcast guest? Let him know on Twitter @RealAlexBarth or via email at [email protected].