The offseason featured plenty of chatter about Mac Jones being on shaky ground as the New England Patriots’ starting quarterback, with backup Bailey Zappe poised to provide competition after winning in his two starts as a rookie.

But after the Patriots reduced their 90-player preseason roster to the regular-season limit of 53 on Tuesday afternoon as required by NFL rules, New England had only one quarterback – Jones.

MORE NFL:

· BRONCOS’ JERRY JEUDY TO MISS AT LEAST THE FIRST 4 GAMES OF THE SEASON

· FORMER FIRST-ROUND PICK FROM AUBURN TRADED BY MIAMI TO DALLAS

· WERE THE COWBOYS PLANNING TO PICK JALEN HURTS?

The Patriots waived Zappe as well as former Park Crossing High School star Malik Cunningham. A four-year starter at quarterback at Louisville, Cunningham had been signed by New England to be developed into a wide receiver, but he ended up training at both positions.

Those cuts came a day after the Patriots had waived their other preseason quarterback, Trace McSorley.

A former Alabama All-American, Jones has started all 32 games in which he’s played since joining the Patriots as the 15th choice in the 2021 NFL Draft.

Jones went to the Pro Bowl and the Patriots went to the playoffs in 2021. But in 2022, Jones’ production took a downturn. An ankle injury caused him to miss three games and most of another, and the switch to former defensive coordinator Matt Patricia as the New England offensive coordinator never seemed to click in 2022.

RELATED: NEW ENGLAND QB WANTS TO BRING BACK ‘ALABAMA MAC’

For 2023, the Patriots have former Alabama offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien in that same post in New England.

Jones’ ankle injury and Brian Hoyer’s concussion pushed Zappe onto the field in 2022 as a fourth-round draft choice from Western Kentucky. In four games, he completed 65-of-92 passes for 781 yards with five touchdowns and three interceptions.

FOR MORE OF AL.COM’S COVERAGE OF THE NFL, GO TO OUR NFL PAGE

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.