FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones made a surprise return to the practice field on Friday, leaving his status for Sunday's game at Green Bay up in the air.
Jones was in uniform with his injured left ankle wrapped tightly as he moved gingerly during the brief portion of Friday's workout open to media.
It was his first time participating in any capacity after sitting out the first two practices of the week on Wednesday and Thursday. The final injury report with game statuses for this weekend's game will be released on Friday afternoon.
Before practice, Belichick said the team was still in a wait-and-see mode regarding Jones' potential availability.
"Ultimately, that will be a decision made by the medical people, in consultation with Mac, of course," Belichick said. "He's no different than any other player. I mean he is, but I'm just saying the process is the same. Medical evaluation, talk to the player, and as a coach you, at whatever point, get the information that you get and you make a decision, if there's a decision to be made. If there's no decision to be made medically, then I'm out of."
On Monday, the second-year quarterback described his status as "day by day" after Baltimore's Calais Campbell fell on his ankle late in the Patriots' 37-26 loss to the Ravens last week.
Belichick noted on Wednesday that Jones has made improvements, but said that veteran backup Brian Hoyer would start if Jones couldn't play. If Jones does sit, it would be the first missed start of his career.
In the meantime, Belichick said everyone involved will continue to monitor Jones' progress.
"We'll just take it as it comes," Belichick said. "You've had injuries. If you have an injury, you go out and do something. If you're OK, then you do more. If you're not OK, then you back off and you do a little less. Then you do more. Then you're OK, then you do more. How's it going to feel the next day after you do something? Well, you're not going to know until the next day. Then you make a decision the next day."
