Quarterback Mac Jones made his first appearance of the 2024 season on Monday night, but it marked the former Alabama All-American's first time on the bench in his NFL career.
Jones replaced starter Trevor Lawrence in the Buffalo Bills' 47-10 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars.
In the NFL's other Monday night game, University of Washington rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels completed 21 of 23 passes for 254 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions and ran 12 times for 39 yards and a touchdown in a 38-33 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. It was the first NFL game since 1940 without a turnover or a punt.
Jacksonville promoted forward Trevor Lawrence, who completed 21 of 38 passes for 178 yards, one touchdown and one interception with the Jaguars trailing 40-10.
Jones appeared on Jacksonville's final two series, completing 5 of 8 passes for 22 yards but no touchdowns or interceptions.
Jones' first possession ended with a lost fumble on a sack of former Troy star Javon Solomon, who was making his NFL debut Monday night.
On the next series, the Jaguars moved from their own 30 to the Buffalo 10, and Jones' fourth-down, eight-yard pass to the end zone was incomplete with 44 seconds left in the game.
Buffalo scored touchdowns on all five of its first-half attempts, with quarterback Josh Allen hauling in four touchdown passes.
“Changes are going to be necessary,” Jacksonville coach Doug Pederson said after the game about his winless team. “Personnel, play design, everything's on the table. Come on, let's make a decision. Those are all things I have to consider and we have to look at as a staff and make adjustments.”
Jones, a first-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, was the starting quarterback for the New England Patriots before being benched with six games remaining in the 2023 season. The Jaguars acquired Jones in a trade in March.
The NFL's Monday night game saw 19 players from Alabama high schools and colleges take to the field.
Jacksonville Jaguars running back Tank Bigsby carries the ball during an NFL game against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y., Monday, Sept. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)
Buffalo Bills 47, Jacksonville Jaguars 10
Jaguars running back Tank Bigsby (Auburn) rushed for 9 yards on two carries.
· Jaguars defensive end DJ Coleman (Jacksonville State) is on the practice squad and is ineligible to play.
· Bills offensive tackle Tylan Grable (Jacksonville State) did not record a stat.
· Josh Hines Allen (Abbeville) started as the Jaguars' defensive end. Hines Allen had three tackles.
· Bills safety Kareem Jackson (Alabama) is on the practice squad and is ineligible to play.
· Bills linebacker Nicholas Morrow (Huntsville) did not record a stat.
· Cam Robinson (Alabama) will start at left offensive tackle for the Jaguars.
· Jaguars running back Kieran Robinson (Alabama) is on injured reserve and ineligible to play.
· Bills wide receiver Tyrell Shavers (Alabama) is on the practice squad and is ineligible to play.
· Bills defensive end Javon Solomon (Troy) recorded a strip sack in his NFL debut and Buffalo recovered it at the Jacksonville 21-yard line for a touchdown with 6:21 left.
· Jaguars safety Daniel Thomas (Lee Montgomery, Auburn University) had one tackle.
Jacksonville (0-3) will play the Houston Texans at noon CDT on Sunday at NRG Stadium in Houston, while Buffalo (3-0) will play the Baltimore Ravens at 7:20 p.m. on Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore.
Washington Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr. carries the ball during an NFL game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Pacor Stadium in Cincinnati, Monday, Sept. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
Washington Commanders 38, Cincinnati Bengals 33
· Jonathan Allen (Alabama) started as the Commanders' defensive end. Allen recorded one tackle and one quarterback hit.
· Bengals safety Jordan Battle (Alabama) did not record any statistics.
· Bengals wide receiver Jermaine Burton (Alabama) did not record any statistics.
· Noah Igbinoghene (Hewitt-Trussville, Auburn) started at cornerback for the Commanders and returned a kickoff 25 yards. In his first start since Dec. 17, 2022, Igbinoghene recorded five tackles, one tackle for loss and returned a kickoff 25 yards.
· Bengals defensive end Cedric Johnson (Davidson) had two tackles in his NFL debut.
Bengals guard Tashaun Manning (Auburn University) is on the practice squad and is ineligible to play.
· Commanders defensive tackle Phidalien Mathis (Alabama) did not record a stat.
Bengals kicker Evan McPherson (Fort Payne) made field goals of 28 and 31 yards and also had three extra points. He also missed a 48-yard field goal, ending a streak of 29 consecutive kicks made within 50 yards.
· Daron Payne (Shades Valley, Ala.) started at defensive tackle for the Commanders. Payne recorded one tackle and one quarterback hit.
· Commanders safety Jeremy Reeves (South Alabama) had one tackle on special teams.
· Brian Robinson Jr. (Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa, Ala.) started at running back for the Commanders. Robinson ran 16 times for 33 yards and one touchdown and caught a pass for 4 yards. With Washington tied the score at 7-7 with 5:25 left in the first quarter, Robinson scored on a 1-yard run.
Bengals defensive tackle Justin Rodgers (Auburn University) is on the practice squad and is ineligible to play.
Commanders offensive tackle Trent Scott (Leigh-Huntsville) caught a 1-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Jayden Daniels to give Washington a 28-13 lead with 9:54 left in the third quarter. With the Commanders at the Cincinnati 1-yard line, Scott entered the game as an extra blocker and then went for the pass. Scott's first NFL reception was his first NFL touchdown.
RELATED: Huntsville offensive tackle catches Jayden Daniels' first NFL touchdown pass
· Cam Taylor-Britt (Park Crossing) started at cornerback for the Bengals. Taylor-Britt had four tackles.
Cincinnati (0-3) will play the Carolina Panthers at noon Sunday at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C. Washington (2-1) will play the Arizona Cardinals at 3:05 Sunday at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.
For more NFL coverage from AL.COM, check out our NFL page.
Mark Inabinet is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter. Translator.
