Report: Mac Jones facing potential discipline for low hit on Eli Apple during Patriots' loss to Bengals
BOSTON -- The NFL will review a hit delivered by Mac Jones on Bengals cornerback Eli Apple with the potential of imposing discipline on the Patriots' quarterback, according to a report by Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.
Florio reported on Christmas night that a hit delivered by Jones on a play that had been whistled dead will be looked at by the league office on Monday or Tuesday.
"A suspension is currently believed to be unlikely, but it is one of the potential punishments," Florio said.
Later on Monday, NFL Network reported that Jones will not be suspended, but could face a fine.
So Mac Jones laid down instead of tackling Chandler Jones and then does this? pic.twitter.com/QYH1Ns7Lua
— Ross Tucker (@RossTuckerNFL) December 25, 2022
Jones delivered the hit while trailing linebacker Germaine Pratt, who had recovered what looked like it could have been a fumble by Jones. Though the play was ultimately ruled an incomplete pass, Pratt continued on as if it was a live ball. Jones dropped to the turf and cut Apple out at the knees around the 25-yard line, drawing the ire of Apple after the game.
"I thought it was a dirty play," Apple told NESN.com after the game. "He's done that before, I've seen it."
On Monday afternoon, in his weekly interview on WEEI, Jones said he did not intend to try to hurt Apple on the play.
"Kind of went down in front of him, trying to stop a fast guy from getting to another fast guy. It's a split-sceond decision and there's a lot that goes into it," Jones said, per Mike Reiss. "I have all the respect for Eli and the Bengals. They played a great game. So there's no hard feelings and definitely no intention to hurt anybody on that play."
Question (via @ChristianArcand, @MarkDondero on @WEEI): With Eli Apple, what were you trying to do on that play? What was it like from your perspective there?
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) December 26, 2022
Mac Jones: pic.twitter.com/Pjgynk1QT5
Jones has been under this microscope before. Last year, he grabbed and twisted the ankle of Panthers linebacker Brian Burns in the midst of a loose ball scramble in Carolina. This year, he slid with his cleats up high against Chicago, catching Jaquan Brisker in the groin. Neither of those plays resulted in a fine for Jones, but he's now at risk of officially getting docked by the league for an illegal hit.