With the bye-week up to now, the Patriots nonetheless don’t appear to have a solution at quarterback

FOXBOROUGH – Invoice Belichick‘s phrase of the day was “I’ve advised all people to be prepared.” He mentioned a model of that phrase a dozen occasions Tuesday as reporters requested questions concerning the Patriots‘ quarterback state of affairs.

Has Belichick determined who the beginning quarterback will likely be on Sunday? 

“I’ve advised all of the gamers the identical factor, be able to go. So, hopefully they are going to be,” mentioned Belichick. 

With Mac Jones coming off of his third benching in 10 video games and Bailey Zappe finishing 40 p.c of his passes this season, is there an opportunity Malik Cunningham might get some snaps? 

“I advised each participant to be able to play,” mentioned Belichick. “So, we’ll see how issues go, and we’ll go from there.”

At what level within the week ought to the group know who its beginning quarterback is forward of Sunday’s recreation?

“Everyone must be able to go. So, that’s the place we’re for immediately,” Belichick mentioned. “Right this moment’s Tuesday, go on the market, be ready, be able to make the most of their alternatives. Then, we’ll go to Wednesday.”

There have been no public indications – from Belichick or offensive coordinator Invoice O’Brien – about who the Patriots’ beginning quarterback will likely be for the soccer recreation that’s 5 days away. 

There’s an opportunity it may very well be Jones. The Patriots have began him each recreation this season regardless of how dangerous the outcomes have been the sport earlier than. Might the interception on the finish of the Colts recreation on Nov. 12 have been a tipping level? Maybe, however the Patriots have been very constant in giving Jones alternatives. 

Then there’s Zappe, whom the Patriots changed Jones with for the ultimate drive of the Colts recreation. He has accomplished 10 of his 25 passes in three video games this season for a median of 4.2 yards per completion, with no touchdowns and one interception that got here on a pretend spike try after he took over for Jones. O’Brien mentioned Jones, Zappe, and Will Grier — who the Patriots signed on September 22 and who has not seen recreation motion –have all gotten reps in apply. Whereas explaining Grier’s reps, Belichick mentioned that the bye week offered a chance for gamers who haven’t performed as a lot to indicate what they will do.

“That was true for everyone throughout the board,” Belichick mentioned. “We didn’t work on any scout group performs, we simply ran our performs. So, all people obtained to run what we ran. We had some guys who had been on the market, some guys weren’t on the market. A whole lot of the fellows who’ve performed rather a lot didn’t apply as a lot.” 

Requested if there are sufficient reps in apply to provide a big sufficient pattern measurement to decide on between a number of quarterbacks, Belichick mentioned, “Everyone must be able to go. You noticed what occurred within the Dallas recreation. [Daniel] Jones went out, [Tommy] DeVito went in. That might occur on the primary play of the sport. It might occur in the course of the sport. 

“Everyone must be able to go. That’s our job proper now, to arrange the group to play properly on Sunday. That’s all of them. Not one in all them, not two of them, however all the fellows. “