MIAMI GARDENS, Fla -- New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones suffered a back injury in Sunday's season-opening 20-7 loss to the Miami Dolphins and required X-rays on it after the game.
Patriots coach Bill Belichick said Jones traveled back with the rest of the team.
Asked about his understanding of the injury, Belichick said, "I know everybody is hungry for an up-to-the-second update, but honestly, the best way to handle these situations is to honestly give it a little time. See what happens. Run whatever tests or analysis that need to be run, and then go from there. So that's what we always do. That's what we're going to do in this case. That's what we're going to do in every other case with every other injury."
Jones finished 21-of-30 for 213 yards, with one touchdown and one interception. He was sacked twice, taking a big hit in the second quarter on a blindside blitz on which he fumbled the ball and the Dolphins returned it for a touchdown.
After the game, Jones walked under his own power to the X-ray room, flanked by Patriots security personnel.
He spent about five minutes in the room before walking back to the team's locker room. Shortly thereafter, a Patriots media official announced that Jones wouldn't be holding his news conference, adding that he had a back injury. But the Patriots said he will meet with the media virtually on Monday.
Jones, who is backed up by veteran Brian Hoyer and rookie Bailey Zappe, played the entire game.
The Patriots visit the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sept. 18.