FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The New England Patriots are releasing veteran quarterback Cam Newton, multiple media outlets reported Tuesday.
Newton, the former Carolina Panthers starter and the NFL MVP for 2015, played only two series in Sunday’s 22-20 preseason win over the New York Giants.
According to ESPN, rookie Mac Jones, the No. 15 pick out of the University of Alabama, will now be the Patriots starter after battling Newton for the job since training camp.
Newton, who was 2-of-5 for 10 yards with one interception Sunday, missed three practices last week, citing a COVID-19 protocol “misunderstanding,” the sports news network reported.
According to WFXT, the Patriots are working to cut the team roster down to 53 players Tuesday.
The Boston Globe first reported Newton’s release.
Cam Newton through the years Carolina Panthers' Cam Newton listens to reporter's question during a press conference following an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Nov. 13, 2016. The Chiefs won 20-17. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone) (Bob Leverone/AP)
Cam Newton through the years TAMPA, FL - OCTOBER 29: Quarterback Cam Newton #1 of the Carolina Panthers wears a hat with "One Love" stitched on the side during a press conference after the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on October 29, 2017 in Tampa, Florida. Panthers defeated the Buccaneers 17 to 3. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) (Don Juan Moore/Getty Images)
Cam Newton through the years CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - SEPTEMBER 12: Cam Newton #1 of the Carolina Panthers against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first quarter of their game at Bank of America Stadium on September 12, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) (Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
Cam Newton through the years CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - AUGUST 08: Cam Newton #1 of the Carolina Panthers watches the game against the Chicago Bears on the sidelines in the second half during a preseason game at Soldier Field on August 08, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by David Banks/Getty Images) (David Banks/Getty Images)
Cam Newton through the years CHARLOTTE, NC - SEPTEMBER 23: Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) does his signature superman move after scoring a rushing touchdown during the NFL game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Carolina Panthers on September 23 2018, at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte,NC. (Photo by Dannie Walls/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) (Dannie Walls/Icon Sportswire/Getty Images)
Cam Newton through the years PARIS, FRANCE - JUNE 18: Cam Newton, NFL Football player, wears a Meshika hat and attends the Heron Preston show at Palais de Tokyo on June 18, 2019 in Paris, France. (Photo by Melodie Jeng / Getty Images) (Melodie Jeng/Getty Images)
Cam Newton through the years NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 06: Cam Newton attends The 2019 Met Gala Celebrating Camp: Notes on Fashion at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/WireImage) (Theo Wargo/Getty Images)
Cam Newton through the years PARIS, FRANCE - JUNE 20: Cam Newton attends the Louis Vuitton Menswear Spring Summer 2020 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on June 20, 2019 in Paris, France. (Photo by Bertrand Rindoff Petroff/Getty Images) (Bertrand Rindoff Petroff/Getty Images)
Cam Newton through the years NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 06: (EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE, SPECIAL RATES APPLY) Dwyane Wade and Cam Newton attend The 2019 Met Gala Celebrating Camp: Notes on Fashion at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/MG19/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue) ((C)Kevin Mazur/Getty Images)
Cam Newton through the years NEW YORK, NY - MAY 01: Cam Newton attends "Rei Kawakubo/Commes Des Garcons: Art of the In-Between" at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 1, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Taylor Hill/FilmMagic) (Taylor Hill/Getty Images)
Cam Newton through the years ATLANTA, GEORGIA - MAY 02: NFL Player Cam Newton attends Fellaship Grand Opening & Ribbon Cutting at Fellaship on May 02, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images) (Paras Griffin/Getty Images)
Cam Newton through the years WESTWOOD, CA - JULY 14: NFL player Cam Newton arrives at the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Sports Awards 2016 at UCLA's Pauley Pavilion on July 14, 2016 in Westwood, California. (Photo by Allen Berezovsky/WireImage) (Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images)
Cam Newton through the years PARIS, FRANCE - JUNE 19: Cam Newton attends the Off-White Menswear Spring Summer 2020 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on June 19, 2019 in Paris, France. (Photo by Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images) (Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Getty Images)
Cam Newton through the years NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 06: Cam Newton attends The 2019 Met Gala Celebrating Camp: Notes On Fashion at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 06, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by John Shearer/Getty Images for THR) (John Shearer/Getty Images)
Cam Newton through the years FILE - In this Oct. 1, 2017, file photo, Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton speaks to the media following an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers, in Foxborough, Mass. Panthers quarterback Cam Newton declined to speak to reporters for the second consecutive day. Panthers team spokesman Steven Drummond said Thursday, Oct. 19, 2017, the 2015 NFL Most Valuable Player gave no explanation as to why he wouldn’t participate in his regular weekly press conference this week prior to Sunday’s game against the Chicago Bears. (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File) (Steven Senne/AP)
Cam Newton through the years Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton wears a hat in honor of Craig Sager as he arrives for a post game press conference after a NFL football game against the Washington Redskins in Landover, Md., Monday, Dec. 19, 2016. The Panthers defeated the Redskins 26-15. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky) (Patrick Semansky/AP)
Cam Newton through the years Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton wears bracelets, a watch, and a monogrammed shirt cuff with his suit coat during a post-game press conference after an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2015, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear) (Stephen Brashear/AP)
Cam Newton through the years Carolina Panthers' Cam Newton responds during a press conference at the NFL football team's training camp in Spartanburg, S.C., Friday, July 29, 2016. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome) (Gerry Broome/AP)
Cam Newton through the years Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton participates in a post game press conference after an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, Sunday, Oct. 16, 2016. (AP Photo/Butch Dill) (Butch Dill/AP)