Mac Jones Earns Big Praise From Julian Edelman

New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones received major praise from recently retired wide receiver Julian Edelman on Wednesday (August 25).

In a quote-tweet response to a report of the rookie quarterback choosing to join the Patriots and New York Giants linemen in a lap, Edelman deemed Jones a "football guy."

Patriots play-by-play man Bob Socci reported a "skirmish" broke out between Patriots and Giants linemen during the teams' joint practice on Wednesday.

According to Socci, Jones "undoubtedly earned respect from teammates" by joining the linemen as they were ordered to run a lap following the incident.

"Before Mac Jones shined in team drills today, the rookie undoubtedly earned respect from teammates after the early-practice skirmish between @Patriots & @Giants linemen. Once order was restored, the two groups ran a lap. Who joined the Pats’ big bodies on their run? Their QB," Socci tweeted.

On Tuesday (August 24), Mike Giardi, who covers the Patriots for NFL Network, reported Jones was expected to have a major opportunity practicing with the first team offense on Tuesday and during a joint practice with the Giants on Wednesday before veteran quarterback Cam Newton was eligible to return on Thursday (August 26).

On Monday (August 23), the Patriots released an official statement announcing Newton would be away from the team until Thursday (August 26) due to what has been described as a "misunderstanding" on COVID-19 tests "conducted away from NFL facilities."

Head coach Bill Belichick, who has long reiterated that the starting quarterback job was Newton's to lose since drafting Jones, said the rookie quarterback took advantage of the situation on Tuesday.

"It is, yes," Belichick said when asked if Sunday's game against the New York Giants would be a big opportunity for Jones, via Girardi.

The former University of Alabama standout was welcomed with massive cheers when he entered his first preseason NFL game on Thursday (August 12) night against the Washington Football Team and has fared well during two appearances.

Jones led Alabama to a College Football National Championship and was third in the Heisman voting behind teammate DeVonta Smith and Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence during his lone season as Alabama's full-time starting quarterback.

Jones threw for 4,500 yards, 41 touchdowns and four interceptions on 311 of 402 passing -- while also recording one rushing touchdown -- while leading the Crimson Tide to a 13-0 record in 2020.

Jones also made four starts in the absence of Tua Tagovailoa following a season-ending injury in 2019.