The Chiefs signed Zappe to a one-year contract Friday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Zappe spent time as a reserve option at quarterback for Cleveland in 2024, completing 16 of 31 passes for 170 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions in his lone spot start. With Gardner Minshew (collarbone) the clear favorite to back up Patrick Mahomes after signing with Kanas City on Thursday, Zappe finds himself once again competing for a third-string role. The Chiefs also have Chris Oladokun on the roster.
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Browns' Bailey Zappe: Struggles in spot start
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Zappe completed 16 of 31 passes for 170 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions in Saturday's 35-10 loss to the Ravens. He added two rushes for two yards.
Zappe drew the start Saturday and ceded relatively limited work to Dorian Thompson-Robinson. The former's opportunity to start didn't go as planned, as he threw a pick-six on Cleveland's second possession and was unable to get the Browns into the end zone until early in the fourth quarter with the team down three scores. Zappe will become a free agent this offseason and will try to compete for a backup job during training camp for the 2025 campaign.
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Browns' Bailey Zappe: Could play Week 18
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Cleveland head coach Kevin Stefanski said Tuesday that both Zappe and Dorian Thompson-Robinson (calf) could see snaps at quarterback in Saturday's game at Baltimore, Patrick Warren of the Browns' official site reports. "There's a scenario where we [play both], but I want to make sure we get through the week before making the final determination," Stefanski said.
Zappe was signed to the Browns' active roster Oct. 22 but has yet to make his team debut. He served as the emergency third quarterback initially upon his arrival, but Zappe was elevated to the backup spot the last two weeks with Jameis Winston (shoulder) being the emergency quarterback. Stefanski said that Winston will likely be inactive once again Saturday, but a determination on whether Thompson-Robinson or Zappe starts won't be made until the end of the practice week.
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Browns' Bailey Zappe: Backing up DTR again
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Zappe will serve as Cleveland's backup quarterback to Dorian Thompson-Robinson for the second week in a row Sunday, Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.
Former starter Jameis Winston is serving as the emergency third QB for the second straight week due to a shoulder injury, per Easterling. Zappe has yet to appear in a game this season after playing in 14 across his first two campaigns in the NFL in 2022 and 2023, both with New England.
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Browns' Bailey Zappe: Backup QB for Week 16
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Zappe will serve as the Browns' backup quarterback against the Bengals on Sunday.
Jameis Winston is serving as the Browns' emergency third-string quarterback Sunday due to a right shoulder injury, which leaves Zappe as Cleveland's QB2 behind Dorian Thompson-Robinson. Zappe appeared in 10 regular-season games for the Patriots in 2023, completing 59.9 percent of his passes for 1,272 yards, six touchdowns and nine interceptions while adding 17 carries for 83 yards and one touchdown. Zappe could revert to the emergency quarterback for Week 17 against the Dolphins on Sunday, Dec. 29 if Winston is healthy.
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Browns' Bailey Zappe: Dropped by Cleveland
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The Browns waived Zappe on Monday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
The 25-year-old quarterback from Western Kentucky joined the Browns' active roster Oct. 23 and had been serving as the team's emergency third QB before being waived Monday. Zappe's most recent regular-season NFL action came with the Patriots in 2023, appearing in 10 games and throwing for 1,272 yards, six touchdowns and nine interceptions. He could remain in Cleveland on the Browns' practice squad if he clears waivers.
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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: 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: 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.
