In a surprising series of moves that has left many scratching their heads, the New England Patriots have let go of backup quarterback Bailey Zappe and third-string quarterback Malik Cunningham. Multiple reports confirmed the cuts, which effectively leave starting quarterback Mac Jones without an immediate backup.
Last season, 24-year-old Zappe stepped up for the Patriots when Jones was sidelined due to a high ankle sprain. Zappe saw action in four games, two of which he started and won against the Detroit Lions and the Cleveland Browns. During his appearances, he posted impressive stats, completing over 70% of his passes, averaging 195.3 yards per game, and scoring five touchdowns against three interceptions.
Cunningham, who was trying to make the Patriots’ roster as an undrafted rookie, had an impressive tenure as a dual-threat quarterback during his four years at Louisville. However, the reason behind his release, along with Zappe’s, remains unclear as of now.
The roster shake-up arrives just before the NFL‘s deadline for teams to pare down their rosters to 53 players. Meanwhile, 25-year-old Jones, now entering his third season with the Patriots, had a mixed performance last year. His stats regressed, despite a strong rookie season in which he threw 22 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. Last year, he completed 65.2% of his throws and ended with 14 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in his 14 starts.
Mac Jones won the QB battle
Earlier in the offseason, Patriots head coach Bill Belichick did not explicitly endorse Jones as the starter for 2023, fueling speculation that Zappe might have a shot at the position. With Zappe now a free agent, Jones stands unchallenged as the team’s starting quarterback.
As the Patriots gear up for their season opener on September 10th against the NFC champions, the Philadelphia Eagles, they will likely look to secure another quarterback to back up Jones in due course.
This sudden development has thrown a curveball into the Patriots‘ quarterback situation, leaving many to wonder what the team’s strategy will be as they approach the upcoming NFL season.
