With Deshaun Watson out for the season due to a ruptured Achilles tendon, the Cleveland Browns are making moves to solidify their quarterback situation. According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Browns are preparing to sign quarterback Bailey Zappe from the Kansas City Chiefs’ practice squad.
Watson, who will undergo surgery this week, will be placed on injured reserve, opening a roster spot. The Browns intend to use that slot to bring in Zappe, a 25-year-old quarterback with 14 games of NFL experience, including eight starts with the New England Patriots. NFL rules stipulate that since Zappe is being signed from another team’s practice squad, the Browns must keep him on the active roster for at least three regular-season games.
Zappe’s short NFL career has had its ups and downs. During the 2022 season, he showed promise, completing 70.7% of his passes and averaging 8.5 yards per attempt. However, his performance dipped in 2023, with his completion rate dropping to 59.9% and his yards per attempt falling to just 6.0. His touchdown-to-interception ratio also took a hit, going from five touchdowns and three picks in 2022 to six touchdowns and nine interceptions the following year.
Much of Zappe’s struggles in 2023 were attributed to the overall deterioration of the Patriots, who eventually replaced Bill Belichick with longtime assistant Jerod Mayo as head coach. With the team signing veteran Jacoby Brissett and drafting Drake Maye with the third overall pick in this year’s draft, Zappe was released and later signed to the Chiefs’ practice squad.
The Browns’ decision to bring in Zappe gives them a chance to evaluate a young quarterback who has played a fair number of NFL games. While the Browns still have Jameis Winston and Dorian Thompson-Robinson on the roster, Zappe adds depth and an opportunity for the team to explore its quarterback options for the future.
After this season, the Browns will face crucial decisions regarding the quarterback position. Whether they opt to draft a top quarterback in the upcoming class or look for depth in the mid-to-late rounds, Zappe could play a role in shaping their plans. For Zappe, this move represents an opportunity to return to an active roster and potentially audition for a larger role in Cleveland or elsewhere in the league.
While Zappe is expected to spend time on the practice field, the Browns’ immediate quarterback duties will likely fall to either Winston or Thompson-Robinson. Thompson-Robinson, who was the backup in the recent game against the Cincinnati Bengals, suffered a finger injury that could force the Browns to turn to Winston in their upcoming matchup against the Baltimore Ravens.
For now, Zappe has a chance to prove his worth in Cleveland, and the Browns get an opportunity to see if he could factor into their long-term quarterback strategy.
