FOXBORO — Over the past two weeks, Mac Jones has attempted the fewest number of deep passes in the NFL.

One.

The Patriots, amid flashes of offensive progress, have boxed themselves into a dink-and-dunk operation that lives entirely within 20 yards of the line of scrimmage. Of late, it’s been more dink-and-dink.

The Pats are averaging 14.8 points per game, second-fewest in the league. Jones has completed three passes that carried 20-plus yards in the air over the past five weeks combined. Offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien confirmed this week defenses are playing downhill against their preferred quick passing plays, unafraid of receivers getting behind them for explosive gains.

“Yeah, absolutely,” O’Brien said. “We have to continue to try to get the ball down the field, and we did do that in Miami. Even though the ball wasn’t thrown down the field, there were plays that were called that had elements of downfield throws, and something else happened on the play.

“So, it’s the playing, it’s the coaching, it’s the design, it’s the execution, everything goes into it. And we have to do a better job.”

Against the Dolphins, Jones missed several open targets downfield. He also admitted to holding the ball too long before his three sacks. When Jones was ready to fire, his receivers occasionally ran routes with poor spacing, separation or sometimes both.

Change is coming at receiver. Having lost Kendrick Bourne for the season to a torn ACL, the Patriots, especially at 2-6, are incentivized to play rookies Demario Douglas and Kayshon Boutte, as well as 2022 second-rounder Tyquan Thornton. They may have no other choice.

Veteran starter DeVante Parker missed Wednesday’s practice with the concussion he suffered in Miami. No Patriots player who suffered a mid-game concussion this season has recovered in time to play the next week. Last Sunday, after he missed two games, JuJu Smith-Schuster recovered from a concussion to find himself slotted fifth on the depth chart.

The only receivers Smith-Schuster played ahead of were two healthy scratches: Thornton and Boutte. If Parker is out Sunday, all three should find the field Sunday around Demario Douglas and practice-squad alum Jalen Reagor.

“I think this week of practice will be really good to see who wants it, who wants to go out there and compete and who wants to pay attention to the details and work to get on the same page,” Jones said Wednesday. “The spacing, the depth, the splits and all that stuff.”

Like Thornton, Reagor and Douglas are armed with rare deep speed the Pats have yet to fully weaponize. Douglas leads the Patriots’ healthy receivers with 222 yards, but has primarily been used underneath as a yards-after-catch threat. Might the Pats finally send him long?

The Commanders’ deep pass defense is awfully welcoming.

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According to Sports Info. Solutions, Washington has allowed the most completions with 20-plus air yards in the NFL. Against these deep throws, the Commanders rank dead last by yards allowed per pass attempt and Expected Points Added (EPA). Considering they traded their two best pass rushers Tuesday, the cracks in Washington’s pass defense could deepen Sunday.

The problem, of course, is the Patriots’ reluctance and inability to stretch opponents downfield. Their offense ranks last in deep passing by completion percentage, yards per attempt and EPA. But, if Jones has time and is willing to stand in the pocket, he expects to find opportunities the team has ignored the last couple weeks.

“Really, for me, it’s just keeping my eyes up and making sure I’m seeing everything with open vision,” Jones said. “That’s important as a quarterback, is try to see a lot but not too much, too. Keep my eyes up, read the play out how it’s supposed to be read.”

Then, it comes down to the kids. Thornton offers the most untapped potential, a 6-foot-2 target with 4.3 speed. He has just two catches for eight yards this season. O’Brien insisted Thornton has worked hard behind the scenes after overcoming a shoulder injury that sidelined him for the first five games of the season.

“I do believe that he’s worked at it. And he’s a guy that has a lot of skills that we look for in a receiver,” O’Bren said. “Let’s see what happens as we head into the second half of the season.”

As for Boutte, O’Brien chalked his stalled development to a steep learning curve. The sixth-rounder out of LSU hasn’t played since the season opener, when he failed to secure any of his four targets.

“I have always said that (with) a rookie receiver, it’s very difficult transitioning; especially on the perimeter. Because in college football, you’re not always seeing the same type of coverages that you see in professional football. It’s just the way it is,” O’Brien said.

“And so, sometimes the transition to pro football is a little bit tougher, takes a little bit longer. But Kayshon’s worked very hard, and he showed glimpses of what he can be. And I believe in him, and I believe he’s got a good future.”

Might that future start Sunday?

The Patriots can only hope. Or maybe even pray, starting with a Hail Mary.