Zapped? Former Solution Bailey Zappe Now Simply Part of New England Patriots' QB Problem

Briefly viewed as a potential solution, New England Patriots quarterback Bailey Zappe is simply another broken cog in a losing machine.

Former Western Kentucky Hilltopper Bailey Zappe has taken a tumble over the past year. 

For a fleeting moment, Zappe was perhaps seen by some as the future of New England Patriots passing. As a fourth-round rookie in 2022, Zappe burst onto the scene in relief of an injured Mac Jones, winning two starts and posting a 111.4 rating and completing almost 73 percent of his passes in the processes.

But since a disastrous, nationally-televised relief effort in place of a healthy Jones in October 2022 in which he threw two interceptions in a 33-14 defeat to the lowly Bears, Zappe has fallen out of New England management's favor. Over the summer, he was even included among the team's final training camp cuts but was brought back in an almost begrudging fashion. 

Count Zappe, for example, among the many who are wondering exactly who will line up under center for the Patriots (2-8) when they take on the equally woebegone New York Giants on Sunday afternoon at MetLife Stadium (1 p.m. ET, Fox).

“My plan every week is to be just to be prepared, take every like it’s a game rep,” Zappe said this week. “If my number gets called this week, I’ll then it gets called. If not, I’m going to try to do my best.”

Zappe has appeared in three games this season / USA TODAY SPORTS

Even with legitimate questions surrounding Jones' future as the Patriots' future starter, Zappe's prescience is far from assured. He's now part of a crowded position that's apparently left in the dark as it prepares to embark on a meaningless seven-game stretch to close the season. 

Four quarterbacks currently reside on the New England depth chart, with Jones and Zappe joined by preseason folk heroes Malik Cunningham and Will Grier. With a high draft pick, a packed quarterback class, and a lengthy offseason to-do list looming, it'd perhaps be wise for the Patriots to get all four reps at some point over these final hours, ones that can generate some usefulness as free research and development for the rocky road ahead.

One could perhaps argue that Zappe already had his chance: he's gotten three small-scale auditions in relief of an ineffective Jones, previously appearing in consecutive October blowout losses to Dallas and New Orleans. He had a chance to be the offensive hero in Frankfurt two weeks ago, inserted into a 10-6 offensive slog further stagnated by Jones' untimely turnovers. Alas, Zappe only added to the trend, as his interception sealed New England's futile fate heading into last week's open date.

Zappe seemed to hint that he could perhaps get into a better groove and rhythm if he could enter into a more stable situation rather than making a futile effort to beautify box scores. 

"That’s one of the hardest parts about it,” Zappe said in Thompson's report, referring to coming into crucial cameos in the fourth quarter. “But, there’s no excuses. You’ve got to be ready. You’ve got to go in there and do your job and you have to go in there and do what the team is asking you to do and help make plays to win the game.”

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In his three appearances this time around, Zappe has completed 10-of-25 passes for 104 yards and the aforementioned interception that rendered a German comeback kaput. Such shortcomings led the second-year pro to acknowledge that he's not in a position to deny any and all opportunities.

“Whenever I get those opportunities, I got to go in there and do my job," Zappe said. "(I) haven’t done that to the best of my ability so whenever that next opportunity comes, this week or whenever, I’ll try to go out there, take advantage of my opportunity, and just go out there and help the team win.”

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