It looks like the depth chart behind Mac Jones continues to churn, with another quarterback joining the team’s ranks.
As things continue to play out with quarterback Matt Corral, who the club placed on the “exempt list” after he failed to show up to the facility at the end of last week, the Patriots did some additional due diligence on one NFL quarterback on Tuesday, with a workout that had been scheduled for today.
According to reports, the Patriots brought in free agent Ian Book for a workout on Wednesday, one day after he reportedly visited with the San Francisco 49ers.
Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald has since reported that Book was signed by the team following that workout and will now join the Patriots’ practice squad.
The former fourth-round pick out of Notre Dame in the 2021 draft by New Orleans has just one NFL appearance under his belt, and it certainly wasn’t ideal. After stepping in back in Week 16 against Miami during his rookie year, he completed 12-of-20 for 135-yards, but finished without a touchdown and threw two interceptions, including a pick-six on his first series, in a 20-3 loss to the Dolphins.
Book was waived by the club the following August and spent 2022 with Philadelphia and was recently released as the team cut down to 53 during the preseason.
This preseason Book completed 12-of-19 (63.2%) without a touchdown or intereception in two appearances, with his most recent outing seeing him complete 11-of-15 for 80 yards during the Eagles’ final exhibition game against Indianapolis.
Former Saints quarterback Drew Brees, who became the official color commentator for Notre Dame a couple of years ago, spoke about Book during one broadcast in 2021 and one thing that impressed him was his leadership and the way he carried himself in the locker room.
“You can tell he endeared himself to his teammates,” said Brees at the time. “ I think that’s the number one trait that a quarterback can have – is that he’s bringing out the best in his teammates and that his teammates will run through a wall for him. Certainly, you got that impression when you would watch the way the team would rally around him.”
Fast-forward to after Book made it to the NFL and spent his one season in New Orleans, and what Brees said ultimately played a role in Book’s stint in Philadelphia. Philly coach Nick Sirianni also said Book’s leadership ability was something that played a role in the Eagles adding him. They just ended up going in a different direction behind Jalen Hurts on their depth chart.
That now opens the door for Book here in New England. Whether or not he’s able to capitalize on this opportunity will be up to him.
(Editor’s note: Portions of the above appeared in this morning’s news and notes column.)
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Ian Logue is a Seacoast native and owner and senior writer for PatsFans.com, an independent media site covering the New England Patriots and has been running this site in one form or another since 1997.
