GREEN BAY, Wisconsin — New England Patriots quarterback Brian Hoyer started in place of the injured Mike Jones, who was slammed on Sunday against the Green Bay Packers in a second-round series Got sacked and eliminated.
Hoyer was assessed with a head injury, and at the start of the second quarter, the team announced he would not be returning.
Fourth-round pick Bailey Zappe from Western Kentucky replaced Hoyer.
There are no other quarterbacks on the Patriots’ 53-man roster. One of their emergency options, receiver Jakobi Meyers, was unavailable for Sunday’s game due to a knee injury.
With Hoyer injured, Packers linebacker Lashana Gary edged right tackle Isaiah Wynn and charged the 36-year-old QB.
Hoyer walked into the blue medical tent that popped up on the sidelines, and after about five minutes, came out of the tent and walked to the locker room for further evaluation. Hoyer commanded a 10-game, 56-yard start that ended with a 37-yard field goal to give the Patriots an early 3-0 lead.
He replaced Jones, who suffered a severe left ankle sprain in a Week 3 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
Hoyer wasn’t the only player to leave the game with an injury, as tight end Jonu Smith limped to the locker room for an evaluation late in the second quarter. It is questionable whether he will return with an ankle injury.
Also on Sunday, Packers safety Adrian Amos was ruled out in the first half with a concussion.
ESPN’s Rob Demovsky contributed to this report.