New England Patriots Quarterback Believed to Have High-Ankle Sprain

For the moment, the New England Patriots appear to have avoided a serious injury at the game's most important position. ESPN's Adam Schefter reports quarterback Mac Jones has been diagnosed with a high-ankle sprain following the team's Week 3 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

Patriots’ QB Mac Jones is believed to have suffered a high-ankle sprain during today’s loss to the Baltimore Ravens, per source. He will undergo an MRI on Monday to confirm the diagnosis and determine the severity of the injury.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 26, 2022

Jones hopped off the field visibly distraught after a backfield collision on the Patriots' final offensive play of the game. He was helped to the locker room, unable to put any weight on his injured foot. Given the dramatic visual, a high-ankle sprain diagnosis is relatively good news. Quarterbacks have been known to play through the injury, depending on the severity.

Jones's health could be a deciding factor in a Patriots season that's already off to a rough 1-2 start. With games against the Green Bay Packers, Detroit Lions, and Cleveland Browns in the coming weeks, the Patriots will need their passer at the peak of his powers if they want to remain in contention in a highly competitive AFC. The team can't afford their second-year quarterback to regress any more than he already has; Jones has turned the ball over six times so far this season. Should Jones be unavailable for any amount of time, the Patriots will turn to backup quarterback Brian Hoyer. Hoyer is one of the league's more seasoned second-string quarterbacks, having won 16 of his 39 starts in his 13 seasons.