Bailey Zappe's Stats, Metrics, Game Logs, Projections & Rankings

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.