Patriots cut Newton, name Jones starting QB
The New England Patriots released quarterback Cam Newton and named rookie Mac Jones their starter, reports Jim McBride of the Boston Globe.
Newton shared a message on his social channels confirming his departure, and the transaction was later made official by the Patriots as part of their 53-man roster cutdown announcement.
— Cameron 1 Newton (@CameronNewton) August 31, 2021
Tuesday's move comes after Newton started 15 games in 2020 and all three preseason contests in 2021.
He re-signed with the Patriots following the 2020 season, inking a one-year deal that contained $3.5 million in guarantees and featured another $1.5 million available through incentives. Newton also led the first-team offense in preseason practice, except for the time he missed due to COVID-19 protocols.
Jones will take over as the starter following a strong preseason showing. The Patriots drafted him 15th overall in April after he led Alabama to a national championship in his lone season as the full-time starter, making him the new face of the franchise.
QB comparison - preseason stats
| CMP/ATT | Yards | TD | INT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C. Newton | 14/21 | 162 | 1 | 1 |
| M. Jones | 36/52 | 389 | 1 | 0 |
Jones will debut against the Miami Dolphins, putting him in a head-to-head showdown with Tua Tagovailoa, the quarterback who preceded him at Alabama. He'll face Patriots legend Tom Brady for the first time when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers visit in Week 4.
The Patriots also released veteran quarterback Brian Hoyer as part of their roster cuts, temporarily leaving Jarrett Stidham as the only backup option behind Jones.