For a brief moment, Bailey Zappe angled to snatch the quarterback job from Mac Jones in Foxborough. On Tuesday, he became one of the most surprising roster casualties.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport said the New England Patriots waived Zappe. While he was unlikely to push Jones for the starting job, the second-year pro at least looked his the clear backup.
The #Patriots have waived backup QB Bailey Zappe, source said. A surprise.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 29, 2023
Some fans briefly thought the move was a good sign for Malik Cunningham. However, The Athletic’s Jeff Howe reported that the Patriots also waived the rookie.
Jones is now the only active quarterback on New England’s roster.
A year after taking Jones in the first round, the Patriots somewhat controversially invested a fourth on Zappe. He set FBS records by amassing 5,977 passing yards and 62 touchdowns at Western Kentucky in 2021.
Zappe instantly ignited New England’s reeling offense when replacing an injured Mac Jones. After taking the Patriots to overtime off the bench in his NFL debut at Lambeau Field, he led the Patriots to back-to-back wins over the Detroit Lions and Cleveland Browns.
The newcomer posted a quarterback rating of at least 100 in all three games while averaging 8.5 yards per attempt. However, Bill Belichick benched Zappe for Jones after throwing two picks in a Monday Night Football loss to the Chicago Bears.
Tuesday’s news is a clear commitment to Jones, who posted an 84.8 quarterback rating in an underwhelming second season. Yet the Patriots must add someone to a suddenly depleted quarterback room before beginning the season against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sept. 10.