Quarterbacks Coach Joe Judge was careful not to step on a loaded grenade when asked Tuesday what the coaching staff needs to see from Mac Jones before being satisfied he’s ready to play coming off the high ankle sprain he suffered Week 3.

“I’m not the doctors and I’m not the head coach,” Judge told reporters during a video call.

But he is a coach who has his eyes on the quarterbacks. Pressed further, Judge came up with a few necessary requirements.

“In terms of when you look at players coming back from injury, I think generally speaking, there are two things you’re concerned with as a coach,” Judge explained. “And that’s number one, can they hurt it any worse? And you never want to put a player in a position to being worse off. And then number two would be, can they protect themselves?”

Judge reiterated that Jones was doing everything possible to return.

With the emergence of Bailey Zappe, however, there’s no urgency to have Jones play before he’s 100 percent. Zappe has performed well in leading the team to wins over Detroit and Cleveland.

“Guys coming off injuries, you have to see where they’re at within their rehab and how they’re moving,” Judge said. “But again, I deflect — those decisions are made by people above me, the head coach and the medical staff.”

Judge did say it was helpful having Jones on the sideline, offering suggestions on game day. The Patriots’ quarterback, who was listed as “questionable” against the Browns before being downgraded, traveled to Cleveland and was on the sideline during the game.

“Yeah, he showed a lot of great leadership this weekend. He really did,” Judge said. “And you always want a guy like Mac – obviously, he’s a captain on the team – you want him down there. You want him with the team. You want him in uniform. Wasn’t available this week, for certain reasons, but I’d say having him down there is a very positive impact on the team. It was good for the other players. … I noticed the coaches having conversations on the bench with Mac throughout the series, looking at pictures together, seeing things he’s picking up on.

“Those conversations, talking with the players in-game, you’ve always gotta value their perspective of what they’re seeing out there – the guys playing, the guys on the sideline watching, staying in tune. Because they’re looking at it through a different lens.”

KENDRICK BOURNE wouldn’t be averse to being traded out of New England, per an ESPN report.

The talented wideout, who is currently battling a turf toe injury, wouldn’t mind a change of scenery if it afforded him more opportunities to play and be more of an integral part of the offense.

Bourne was an important part of the offense last year with Josh McDaniels as the offensive coordinator. For different reasons, his snaps have declined this year with Matt Patricia as the play caller.

The 27-year-old receiver had 55 catches for 800 yards on 70 targets last year. After six games, he’s made 11 catches on 14 targets. He’s projected to finish with 31 catches on 40 targets.

Some of Bourne’s lack of playing time is due to the Patriots’ depth at the position, as well as the emergence of rookie receiver Tyquan Thornton, who had been in IR the first four weeks, but has been in the lineup the last two games.

Against the Browns, Thornton had four catches for 37 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed for a score.

In August several teams expressed an interest in trading for Bourne, but none of those conversations gained much traction. His $3.5 million team-friendly salary is likely one reason the Pats wouldn’t be inclined to move him.

The NFL’s trade deadline is Nov. 1.

According to the ESPN report, Nelson Agholor’s name has also come up in trade discussions recently, along with Bourne. The wide receiver is also hurt, missing the Cleveland game with a hamstring injury.

THE PATRIOTS knew Tyquan Thorton had elite long speed, with the blazing 4.28 he ran at the scouting combine.

According to Joe Judge, it was Thornton’s short-area quickness that left the biggest impression on the coaches during training camp.

Case in point, Thornton’s 2-yard touchdown catch from Bailey Zappe against Cleveland. The rookie receiver got open in a hurry cutting across the back of the end zone.

“Obviously, he’s got top-end speed, that’s no secret. Everyone knew about that coming out,” Judge said. “The thing that jumped out at us in training camp was seeing him in short space, how well he moves in and out of cuts, and how loose he is right there.

“He showed the other day, he does a good job finding open spaces and running with the ball when he gets an opportunity for it.”

Rookie quarterback Bailey Zappe, speaking Monday on WEEI’s “Merloni, Fauria & Mego,” believes there’s even better things to come from Thornton.

Said Zappe: “(Sunday) I think was only a tiny bit of what he can do.”

Thornton finished with just 37 yards on four receptions with a touchdown catch against the Browns. He also scored on a 19-yard jet sweep. The rookie wideout saw quite a bit of action given the absence of Agholor (hamstring) along with Bourne (turf toe) not seeing any action after the first quarter.

“He’s a dynamic receiver, no doubt,” Zappe said of Thornton on WEEI. “He’s fast, he runs great routes, he catches the ball very well. He fits right in with our great receiver group.”

Copy the Story Link