The Cleveland Browns announced on Wednesday that they re-signed free-agent quarterback Bailey Zappe and waived wide receiver Jaelon Darden in a corresponding move. Zappe returns to the Browns after they just cut him on Monday. Now that he's back on the 53-man active roster, he will return to a QB3 role behind starter Jameis Winston and Dorian Thompson-Robinson with Deshaun Watson (Achilles) out for the season. The 25-year-old former fourth-round selection by the New England Patriots in 2022 out of Western Kentucky has played in 14 NFL games (eight starts), which all came with the Patriots the last two seasons, and he's completed 63.2% of his pass attempts for 2,053 yards, 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Zappe can continue to be ignored for fantasy purposes.
Browns Officially Place Deshaun Watson On Injured Reserve
The Cleveland Browns placed quarterback Deshaun Watson (Achilles) on Injured Reserve due to a torn Achilles, effectively ending his 2024 season. In a corresponding move, Bailey Zappe was officially signed to the active roster off of the Kansas City Chiefs' practice squad. Watson could have played in his last career game with the Browns after suffering the serious injury. If so, his final numbers as Brown will read 3,365 yards passing, 19 passing touchdowns, and 12 interceptions in 19 games. Zappe, who spent the last two seasons with the New England Patriots, will likely back up Jameis Winston and Dorian Thompson-Robinson.
The Cleveland Browns signed quarterback Bailey Zappe off the Kansas City Chiefs' practice squad on Tuesday, according to sources. Deshaun Watson (Achilles) is out for the year after tearing his Achilles in the Week 7 loss to the division-rival Cincinnati Bengals, while Dorian Thompson-Robinson's (finger) status for the Week 8 game against the division-rival Baltimore Ravens is also up in the air. With DTR's status unknown, veteran Jameis Winston could start this Sunday against the Ravens, with Zappe backing him up if Thompson-Robinson is inactive. The 25-year-old Zappe was cut by the New England Patriots in training camp but quickly latched onto the Chiefs' practice squad. The former fourth-rounder could be one more injury away from making another start after he threw for 1,272 yards, six touchdowns and nine picks in 10 games (six starts) in 2023 for New England.
Former New England Patriots quarterback Bailey Zappe, who has plenty of starting experience in the NFL, has a deal in place to sign with the Kansas City Chiefs' practice squad, according to a source. The Patriots just cut Zappe on Tuesday to get down to 53 players, and he lands on his feet quickly with the defending Super Bowl champions to give them QB depth behind Patrick Mahomes and Carson Wentz. Zappe, a former fourth-rounder in 2022 out of Western Kentucky, wasn't able to stick around in New England after the team drafted both Drake Maye and Joe Milton III in April. The 25-year-old played in 14 games (eight starts) in his two seasons with the Pats, going 192-for-304 (63.2%) for 2,053 yards, 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. If Zappe ends up starting for the Chiefs in 2024, they're probably unlikely to three-peat.
The New England Patriots waived quarterback Bailey Zappe on Tuesday, according to a source. Zappe became the odd-man out in New England's QB room leading up to the start of the 2024 regular season after rookie sixth-rounder Joe Milton III showed enough in training camp and the preseason to earn the QB3 role behind first-round rookie Drake Maye and veteran Jacoby Brissett. Maye and Brissett are still competing for the starting gig under center with less than two weeks to go before Week 1 kicks off. Zappe, 25, should find a new home sooner than later as QB depth. He was initially a fourth-round selection by the Pats in 2022 out of Western Kentucky. In his two years in Boston, he completed only 63.2% of his 304 pass attempts for 2,053 yards, 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 14 games (eight starts).
Toward the end of organized team activities this offseason, New England Patriots rookie quarterback Drake Maye overtook Bailey Zappe as the team's No. 2 QB behind veteran Jacoby Brissett. Nothing about that comes off as surprising, but with sixth-rounder Joe Milton III also in the fold in New England, is seems that Zappe's days with the team could be close to over. To earn the No. 3 job this year, Zappe would have to drastically outplay Milton, which didn't happen during spring workouts. The Patriots also have Nathan Rourke competing for a roster spot this summer. The most likely scenario at this point is that the 25-year-old Zappe is traded away to a team with more of a need for quarterback depth once training camp and the preseason begin.
The Boston Herald's Andrew Callahan suggests that quarterback Bailey Zappe could be a trade candidate after the team added Drake Maye and Joe Milton III in this year's draft. Maye and veteran Jacoby Brissett are locks for the Week 1 roster, making it a three-way fight for the No. 3 job between Zappe, Milton and Nathan Rourke. Zappe would fetch the biggest return in a trade, especially if the Patriots wait until the summer when other QBs begin getting injured in training camp. If Milton isn't a complete disaster in spring practices and Rourke performs at a replacement level, Zappe could be out of town by Sept. 1. The 25-year-old Zappe appeared in 10 games (six starts) for New England in 2023 in his second season and threw for 1,272 yards, six touchdowns and nine interceptions.
Bailey Zappe Picked Off Twice In Ugly Week 18 Loss
New England Patriots quarterback Bailey Zappe completed just 12 of 30 passes (40 percent) for 88 yards, zero touchdowns, and two interceptions during Sunday's loss to the New York Jets. He also rushed for 13 yards. Snow and wind contributed to a very shaky game for Zappe, who took over as the Patriots' starting quarterback during the second half of the season. He finishes 2023 having amassed 1,272 passing yards, seven total touchdowns, and nine turnovers. Key questions face the Patriots this offseason, especially at quarterback and head coach. Both Zappe and Mac Jones find themselves on the hot seat as the Patriots, who have clinched a top-three draft pick, could look to select a new signal-caller.
New England Patriots quarterback Bailey Zappe remains off the fantasy radar for Week 18 versus the New York Jets. A variety of factors make Zappe an unappealing option ahead of Sunday's season finale. First of all, the Jets, despite enduring significant dysfunction this season, have a very strong secondary. New York is averaging the third-fewest fantasy points allowed per game in 2023, making it unlikely that Zappe, who has looked inconsistent through five starts, will have any fantasy relevance. Furthermore, the forecast for this game calls for heavy snow, rain, and wind, which makes it very difficult to execute a good passing attack. The odds are stacked against Zappe this week, keeping him in the QB3 tier for fantasy purposes.
New England Patriots quarterback Bailey Zappe completed 16 of 26 passes for 209 yards, zero touchdowns, and three interceptions during Sunday's loss to the Buffalo Bills. He also took three sacks but did manage to rush for 37 yards and a score. Just one week removed from a big outing versus the Denver Broncos, Zappe crumbled in a divisional matchup on the road. The 24-year-old is still in the developmental phase of his career, flashing potential at times but also showing key areas where he needs to improve. He'll be relegated to the QB3 tier in fantasy football ahead of next week's clash versus a dominant New York Jets defense.
Bailey Zappe
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Browns
