Is Bill Belichick losing his locker room?

Some Patriots players aren’t happy with how their coach handled the quarterback controversy between Mac Jones and backup Bailey Zappe, according to Boston Sports Journal’s Greg Bedard.

“That Belichick declined to endorse Mac Jones as the starting QB in 2023 likely won’t play well in the locker room,” Bedard wrote of the second-year quarterback, who the Patriots selected in the first round of the 2021 draft. “The players understand that Jones and the offense were put in terrible positions by Belichick this season.

“Hopefully he takes more accountability for that in private because that’s how you lose players, and many were disillusioned from the start about the changes. Several players were not happy with how Belichick handled Jones with the Bailey Zappe situation, especially against the Bears — there are lingering feelings about that.”

Jones was benched for rookie backup Zappe in the second quarter of a loss to the Bears in Week 7. At the time, Jones struggled in his return after missing three games with a severe high-ankle sprain. Zappe had played well, going 2-0 as a starter while Jones was sidelined.

At the time, Belichick explained that his decision to pull Jones was not related to the quarterback’s health, or the interception he threw after struggling in his three possessions. He also said after the game that Jones would have returned to action if the score had been closer. The Bears beat the Patriots 33-14 in the Oct. 24 matchup.

Additionally, Belichick and Jones told reporters that the coach had informed the quarterbacks that they both would play in the game against Chicago.

Despite the situation, Jones was a team player and was seen high-fiving Zappe on the sidelines after a touchdown. Jones also said he knew he needed to play better in the midst of a season in which he faced criticism head-on for New England’s sputtering offense.

Throughout the season, there were multiple contentious moments when Jones was visibly frustrated on the field.

During an ugly win against the Cardinals last month, Jones appeared to drop an F-bomb in the direction of Matt Patricia, who is in his first season as New England’s offensive coordinator. Though listed as a senior football advisor and offensive line coach, Patricia still calls plays.

Although the Patriots never wavered on Jones as their quarterback, Belichick seemed hesitant to fully back the Alabama product as the season unfolded.

During a press conference on Monday, Belichick — who confirmed his plans to return for a 24th season as Patriots coach — was asked whether he envisions Jones as the team’s starting quarterback, or if he needs to reevaluate the position.

“I think Mac has the ability to play quarterback in this league,” Belichick said. “We have to all work together to try to find the best way as a football team — which obviously quarterback’s an important position — to be more productive than we were this season. So that’s incumbent on all of us. We’ll all work together on that, and again, look for better results.”

Jones finished the season completing 65.2 percent of his passes for 2,997 yards with 14 touchdowns and 11 interceptions, for an 84.8 passer rating.

Bedard also reported that one unnamed player disagreed with how Belichick switched up the offensive line’s blocking system.

“Players don’t believe they were put in a position to succeed,” Bedard wrote. “And one believes that if they had kept the same blocking system as last season, the team would have had half the sacks and negative plays that killed the offense this season. That was a coaching decision, and the Krafts [ownership] are well aware of the situation.”

After Sunday’s season-ending loss in Buffalo, the Patriots have now failed to reach the postseason in two of the last three seasons. Jones led New England to the postseason in his rookie year.