Browns' Bailey Zappe: Tabbed as emergency QB in Week 12
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Zappe (coach's decision) in inactive for Thursday's game against Pittsburgh but will serve as Cleveland's emergency third quarterback, Kelsey Russo of the Browns' official site reports.
Zappe was signed to the Browns' active roster from Kansas City's practice squad Oct. 22 and has been working as Cleveland's emergency third quarterback since then. He'll be able to enter Thursday's contest only if both Jameis Winston and Dorian Thompson-Robinson become unable to play due to injury, illness, or disqualification.
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Browns' Bailey Zappe: Joins Cleveland
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The Browns are expected to sign Zappe off Kansas City's practice squad Tuesday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
With Deshaun Watson (Achilles) likely headed for injured reserve and Dorian Thompson-Robinson (finger) at risk of missing Sunday's game against the Ravens, the Browns will bring Zappe aboard to provide some depth behind Jameis Winston. Zappe joined Kansas City in late August after being cut by the Patriots, with whom he made 14 appearances (eight starts) over his first two NFL seasons.
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Bailey Zappe: Picked up by KC
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The Chiefs signed Zappe to their practice squad Wednesday, Jordan Schultz of BleacherReport.com reports.
The Western Kentucky product failed to make New England's initial 53-man roster, but he's now found a new home in Kansas City. Zappe has played sporadically throughout his two years in the NFL, throwing for 2,053 yards, 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 14 regular-season contests. He could very well serve as the Chiefs' No. 3 quarterback option behind Patrick Mahomes and Carson Wentz in 2024.
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Bailey Zappe: Being let go
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The Patriots are slated to waive Zappe, Mike Reiss of ESPN reports.
With Jacoby Brissett and Drake Maye in contention for the team's starting job and rookie sixth-rounder Joe Milton also in the mix, Zappe was the odd man out in New England's QB room. The 2022 fourth-rounder will now have a chance to catch on elsewhere with a franchise looking to add a backup with some starting experience.
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Patriots' Bailey Zappe: Throws for 108 yards Thursday
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Zappe completed 12 of his 20 pass attempts for 108 yards and ran once for six yards in Thursday's 17-3 preseason win over the Panthers.
Per Mike Reiss of ESPN.com, Zappe logged a team-high 36 snaps among the Patriots' QBs in the team's exhibition opener, while top options Jacoby Brissett (four snaps) and Drake Maye (six snaps) both saw limited action in the contest. At this stage, Zappe is competing with rookie sixth-rounder Joe Milton for depth slotting, with Chad Graff of The Athletic suggesting that in the current context Zappe seems unlikely to make New England's 53-man roster.
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Patriots' Bailey Zappe: Backing up Brissett
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Zappe appears set to operate as the No. 2 quarterback behind Jacoby Brissett, who is slated to sign a one-year, $8 million contract with the Patriots, John Keim of ESPN reports.
Zappe started New England's final six games of the 2023 season after beating out Mac Jones, who the Patriots recently traded to Jacksonville for a 2024 sixth-round draft pick, posting a 6:7 TD:INT in that span. Given that New England holds the third overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, in what's considered a high-end quarterback class, Zappe could end up further down the depth chart with the potential selection of rookie competition.
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Patriots' Bailey Zappe: Tough sledding in Week 15 loss
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Zappe completed 23 of 31 passes for 180 yards and a touchdown with an interception in Sunday's 27-17 loss to Kansas City.
The second-year QB was efficient but not very productive Sunday, and Zappe wasn't able to build on last week's three-touchdown performance. His ability to move the ball in the second half may have been hurt by the loss of his favorite option, tight end Hunter Henry (knee), who Zappe had hit for a 16 -yard TD in the second quarter prior to his exit. The Patriots have a real shot at landing the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, but Zappe is playing for a job next season and isn't likely to let up in Week 16 against the Broncos.
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Patriots' Bailey Zappe: Three-touchdown effort in win
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Zappe completed 19 of 28 passes for 240 yards with three touchdowns and one interception in the Patriots' 21-18 win over the Steelers on Thursday night. He also rushed three times for 13 yards.
Zappe was the overriding reason a game with the lowest projected over/under total in 30 years exceeded expectations, with the second-year signal-caller turning in the first three-touchdown effort of his career. The bulk of Zappe's success came in the first half, when he connected with Ezekiel Elliott (11 yards) and Hunter Henry (eight, 24 yards) for his trio of scoring tosses. Zappe didn't lead the Patriots to any second-half points, but his one turnover didn't lead to any Steelers scores, either. Given the improved offensive success -- especially by the Patriots' 2023 standards -- Zappe was able to help lead Thursday, he seems like a lock to draw a Week 15 home start against the Chiefs on Sunday, Dec. 17.
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Patriots' Bailey Zappe: Shut out in first start of 2023
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Zappe completed 13 of 25 passes for 141 yards with no touchdowns or turnovers in Sunday's 6-0 loss to the Chargers. He added four rushing attempts for 16 yards.
Zappe failed to lead the Patriots to any points in his first start of the season. He completed just five of 12 passes for 39 yards in the first half, and while Zappe mustered more yardage after halftime, he still didn't move the offense effectively. Mac Jones wasn't much better prior to being benched, so it remains to be seen which quarterback the Patriots will turn to on a short week against the Steelers on Thursday. Per Evan Lazar of the Patriots' official site, the team also had plays drawn up for mobile rookie Malik Cunningham, so the latter may work his way into the mix under center as well.
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Patriots' Bailey Zappe: Expected starter Sunday
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Zappe is expected to start Sunday's game against the Chargers, Evan Lazar of the Patriots' official site and Zack Cox of NESN.com report.
Though coach Bill Belichick declined to publicly confirm New England's starting quarterback, the signs leading up to the game pointed to Zappe getting the nod after having taken over for Mac Jones (who is in uniform Sunday) in the second half of a 10-7 loss to the Giants in Week 12. With Demario Douglas (concussion) and Kayshon Boutte (shoulder/illness) both out, Zappe is on track to be working with a thinned-out WR corps. Given the overall state of the team's offense, plus potentially rainy conditions, it wouldn't surprise us to see the Patriots lean toward a run focus as long as the flow of the Sunday's contest permits. Additionally, it's been speculated that the team has prepared a package of plays designed to get practice-squad elevation Malik Cunningham some snaps versus Los Angeles.
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Patriots' Bailey Zappe: Prepping for Week 13 start
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The Patriots are preparing for Zappe to start Sunday against the Chargers, sources tell Jeff Howe of The Athletic.
Though head coach Bill Belichick has been unwilling to confirm a starting quarterback for the second week in a row, signs are pointing to Zappe getting his first nod of the season. Zappe took the bulk of the first-team reps at practice Wednesday, three days after he replaced Mac Jones for the second half of a 10-7 loss to the Giants. The second-year signal-caller out of Western Kentucky didn't provide much of a spark to the New England offense in Week 12 and now owns an ugly 48.7 percent completion rate for 4.1 yards per attempt on 39 passes this season, but the Patriots nonetheless appear set to give Zappe a chance to lead the offense with Jones having failed to finish four of his 11 starts while throwing 12 interceptions and averaging a career-low 6.1 yards per attempt. Assuming he does in fact end up starting the Week 13 game, Zappe wouldn't represent anything more than a low-end lineup option in leagues that start two quarterbacks or have a QB flex spot.
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Patriots' Bailey Zappe: Takes early reps in practice
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Zappe took multiple reps under center during the media-access portion of Wednesday's practice and was then was followed by practice-squad member Malik Cunningham, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports.
Reiss adds that neither Mac Jones nor the Patriots' other practice-squad quarterback (Will Grier) threw during the early portion of the session. While head coach Bill Belichick has declined to name a starting quarterback for this Sunday's game against the Chargers, the way Wednesday's practice transpired hints at Zappe potentially getting the nod this weekend. During the Patriots' 10-7 loss to the Giants in Week 12, Zappe replaced Jones after halftime and completed nine of 14 passes for 54 yards with no touchdowns and one interception.
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Patriots' Bailey Zappe: Takes over in second half
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Zappe completed nine of 14 passes for 54 yards, no touchdowns and one interception in Sunday's 10-7 loss to the Giants.
After Mac Jones threw two interceptions in the first half, Zappe was called upon to lead New England's offense for the final two quarters. Zappe took better care of the ball but was otherwise uninspiring, as he averaged only 3.9 yards per attempt and his longest completion went for 15 yards -- nearly all of which came after the catch. It's unclear who will be under center for New England in Week 13 against the Chargers, as both Zappe and Jones have had problems effectively moving the offense.
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Patriots' Bailey Zappe: Week 12 Waiver Priority List
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There's a chance Zappe could be the starter for the Patriots for the remainder of the season, and he's worth adding in all Superflex and two-quarterback leagues for up to 5 percent of your FAB. On Monday, the Patriots had not committed to Mac Jones or Zappe as the starter against the Giants in Week 12, but that could change by the time you're reading this. Still, it's clear the coaching staff in New England has soured on Jones, and Zappe might get the chance to finish out the season for the Patriots to see what his role could be in 2024.
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Patriots' Bailey Zappe: Ineffective as in-game replacement
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Zappe took over for an ineffective Mac Jones with 12:55 remaining in the Patriots' 34-0 loss to the Saints on Sunday and completed three of nine passes for 22 yards.
Zappe was ultimately no better than Jones in sparking the Patriots offense, seemingly leaving the team in a proverbial no man's land when it comes to its quarterback situation. Zappe showed some flashes of effective play during his starting stint as a raw rookie in 2022, but Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports head coach Bill Belichick stated after the game that Jones would remain the starting quarterback in a Week 6 road matchup against the Raiders.
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Patriots' Bailey Zappe: Ready to compete if opportunity knocks
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Zappe indicated that he'll be ready if presented with the opportunity to compete with Mac Jones for the Patriots' starting QB job, Eric Edholm of NFL.com reports. "If my opportunity presents itself, I'm going to take full advantage of it," Zappe noted Wednesday. "I'm going to do everything I can to help the team win. That's really all I can say from that standpoint. That's coach (Bill) Belichick's decision, whatever he decides. But if the opportunity presents itself, I'm going to be ready and take advantage of it."
As a rookie, Zappe started two games while Jones dealt with an ankle injury, and overall the 2022 fourth-rounder recorded 65 completions on 92 passing attempts for 781 yards with five TDs and three picks in four appearances. Given that Belichick declined last month to specifically confirm Jones as the Patriots' starter this coming season, there's been speculation that Zappe could make a run at the job this summer. However, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com relays via team sources that the Patriots appear committed to seeing if Jones can get back on track after an uneven 2022 campaign while at the same time being amenable to Zappe pushing the 2021 first-rounder in his third season as a pro. In any case, following the offseason departure of Brian Hoyer, Jones and Zappe are currently the top two quarterbacks on New England's roster, with the team likely to add depth at the position in the coming weeks and months.
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Patriots' Bailey Zappe: Starts two games as rookie
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Zappe finished the 2022 season with 65 completions on 92 passing attempts for 781 yards with five TDs and three picks in four appearances.
The 2022 fourth-rounder saw two starts as a rookie when Mac Jones was sidelined by an ankle injury and didn't look out of place in doing so. Looking ahead, Zappe is line to reprise his backup role behind Jones next season, while veteran signal caller Brian Hoyer is also under contract with the team through 2023.
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Patriots' Bailey Zappe: Enters in relief in loss
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Zappe completed 14 of 22 passes for 185 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions in Monday's 33-14 loss to the Bears.
Zappe entered the game early in the second quarter in relief of the benched Mac Jones and immediately jumpstarted the New England offense, throwing for a 30-yard touchdown on his first possession while connecting on a 43-yard completion to DeVante Parker to set up another score on New England's next drive. However, Zappe cooled off considerably in the second half, completing only nine of his 16 passes for 76 yards to go along with both of his picks. Even so, he appears to have performed well enough to be considered for a Week 8 start against the Jets, and he may have created a genuine quarterback controversy in New England.
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Patriots' Bailey Zappe: Returns to backup role
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Coach Bill Belichick told Scott Zolak of 98.5 The Sports Hub that Mac Jones (ankle) will start for the Patriots on Monday against the Bears, relegating Zappe to backup duties.
While Jones is back following a three-game absence due to a high left-ankle sprain, it isn't out of the question that Zappe will be a part of the game plan in Week 7, according to Evan Lazar of the team's official site. Leading the Patriots to a 2-1 record in place of Jones, Zappe completed 73 percent of his passes for 596 yards, four touchdowns and one interception. If he mixes into the offense Monday though, Zappe seems likely to have a limited snap count, if any.
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Patriots' Bailey Zappe: Eclipses 300-yard mark in win
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Zappe completed 24 of 34 passes for 309 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions in the Patriots' 38-15 win over the Browns on Sunday. He also netted minus-4 yards on three rushes and lost a fumble.
The rookie's remarkable starting run continued in fine fashion Sunday, with Zappe setting new career highs in completions, pass attempts, passing yards and touchdown passes. Zappe's one turnover came on a strip sack by Myles Garrett late in the first quarter in New England territory, but the Patriots defense was subsequently up to the task by turning the Browns over on downs in the ensuing possession. Zappe's tenure under center may be coming to an end for now with Mac Jones (ankle) ostensibly having a good chance of returning for a Week 7 Monday night home battle against the Bears, but he's arguably shown enough to perhaps keep the No. 2 job even when Brian Hoyer (IR-concussion) is healthy enough to return.
