Zappe Fever is headed to Cleveland.
After the season-ending injury to quarterback Deshaun Watson, the Browns are signing former Patriots backup quarterback/cult hero Bailey Zappe.
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NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero reported the move and tweeted:
“A new QB in Cleveland: The #Browns are signing Bailey Zappe off the #Chiefs practice squad, per sources. With Deshaun Watson’s season over and Dorian Thompson-Robinson’s status in flux, Jameis Winston could start Sunday vs. Baltimore and Zappe would back him up.”
After being released by New England on cutdown day this year, Zappe was signed to the Kansas City Chiefs practice squad.
Watson suffered a season-ending ACL tear on Sunday. Dorian Thompson-Robinson replaced him as the starter, but suffered a finger injury. Former Tampa Bay starter Jameis Winston is expected to start this week against the Ravens in Cleveland.
A fourth-round pick in 2022, Zappe started eight games in his two seasons with the Patriots and became popular with a segment of the fan base, who believed the undersized Western Kentucky product should be the team’s starter.
The Patriots went 4-4 in his eight starts. He completed 192 of 304 career passes for 2,053 yards. He had 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.
He was cut after the Patriots signed Jacoby Brissett and drafted both Drake Maye and Joe Milton during the offseason.
