Patriots coach Bill Belichick praises QB Mac Jones - ESPN

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick praised quarterback Mac Jones' improvement leading into Sunday's season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles, while leaving open who might serve as his top backup.

«Mac's had a good offseason and has had a really good camp,» Belichick said in a video conference Monday morning. «He understands the offense — how it works, how to get his teammates involved, how to help them be productive. So he's had a really good stretch here; it's been consistent all the way through.»

Belichick also told sports radio WEEI that Jones is in «excellent physical condition,» has «made a lot of improvement in reads, decision-making and timing,» and that he's «looking forward to the season with Mac.»

Those were decisive words coming from Belichick, who at the start of training camp noted how every player on the roster — including Jones — was competing for a starting role.

As it turned out, Belichick kept just Jones at quarterback on the team's initial 53-man roster last week, waiving his primary competition, Bailey Zappe, and undrafted free agent Malik Cunningham.

The Patriots brought Zappe and Cunningham back on the practice squad a day later, with Belichick explaining his thinking on Zappe publicly for the first time Monday by saying: «All roster decisions are based on what we feel like is best for our football team, so there's a number of things involved there. We're glad to have Bailey, going to continue to work with him, still think he's a good, young developing player.»

The Patriots also claimed second-year quarterback Matt Corral on waivers from the Carolina Panthers last Thursday, putting him on their 53-man roster.

While Corral is technically ahead of Zappe on the depth