Mac Jones finds ‘great joy in competition’ as he vies for a backup role with his hometown Jaguars

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — It’s easy to spot Mac Jones on Jacksonville’s practice fields. He’s the one dancing between plays.

Shimmying. Shaking. Strutting. Smiling.

The 15th overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft is clearly enjoying his new role with his hometown team. After being the third Jaguars quarterback to take the field in last week’s preseason opener against Kansas City, Jones is expected to start against Tampa Bay on Saturday.

With Trevor Lawrence taking the night off following two joint practices with the Bucs, Jones will get a chance to secure the team’s backup job. It’s a far cry from being THE GUY for 43 games in New England, but it’s also a refreshing reboot for the former Alabama star.

“I’ve competed my whole life and I find great joy in competition,” Jones said. “I try to just be myself. I’m not going to change because of one thing or another.”

Jones and C.J. Beathard are expected to split the exhibition. Jones completed 9 of 11 passes for 98 yards against the Chiefs; Beathard connected on 7 of 14 for 125 yards, including a 35-yard touchdown pass to Devin Duvernay.

It would be a mild upset if Jones didn’t land the No. 2 spot. After all, the Jaguars traded a sixth-round draft pick to New England in March in hopes of finding an upgrade behind Lawrence.

Lawrence missed the first game of his professional career following a sprained right shoulder in December. He also missed significant practice time because of other injuries: a sprained left knee in Week 6, a sprained right ankle in Week 13 and a concussion in Week 15.

Beathard, 30, won his lone start in 2023 but also dealt with a nagging shoulder injury down the stretch. He is entering the final year of his contract.

The 25-year-old Jones, meanwhile, became available once the Patriots and new coach Jerod Mayo decided they were going to draft a quarterback (Drake Maye) with the No. 3 pick in April. It was a low-risk move for Jacksonville, which is on the hook for $2.8 million in the final year of his rookie deal.

It also gave Jones a fresh start after getting booed, benched and eventually booted. The Jacksonville native and starter during Alabama’s 2020 national championship run doesn’t have nearly the same amount of pressure now. But he insists he’s approaching everything the same way he did in college and in New England.

“Some years you’re the starter and you may not be playing much. A lot of times it’s a coach’s decision. But I always want to get out there and play as much as I can,” he said. “Whether you’re the starter, backup, third or fourth, it doesn’t matter. You want the reps in the game.”

The Jaguars believe Jones has meshed well in their QB room — and it shows in practice. He celebrates big plays like few others and has no problem letting loose between plays and during drills.

“He’s going to have a fun time no matter what,” coach Doug Pederson said. “I think that’s just his personality. He’s great in the locker room, great with the guys. Sometimes he drives us crazy with some of the stuff he does or says, but it’s good. I think it’s really good because when he gets in there, it’s business. He’s a competitor, and he loves to compete.”

Jones gets to do it daily, too, mostly in friendly games of throwing accuracy and precision against Lawrence and Beathard.

“When he got here, I was kind of just wondering what kind of guy he was because I had never met him, never knew anything,” Beathard said. “He’s just a great dude, easy to get along with. Has fun, really happy go lucky out there. It’s cool to see that.

“A guy that’s been through a lot. … To be able to handle it and just kind of go with the punches and roll with it, it’s impressive.”