Mac Jones is shaping up to be the Patriots’ only quarterback option at the moment after New England reportedly cut both backup QB Bailey Zappe and third-stringer Malik Cunningham on Tuesday.
Multiple reports indicate that both quarterbacks are no longer with the Pats, with Zappe’s waiving being the biggest shock, and no corresponding move has been made.
As of now, that leaves only Jones on the QB depth chart.Â
Zappe made four appearances last season for the Patriots, including a pair of starts while Jones was injured.
The 24-year-old Zappe won both of his starts and finished the 2022 season with 781 passing yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions.
The Pats selected Zappe in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft and there had been some chatter that perhaps he would compete with Jones for the starting job this year.
However, he struggled during the preseason, going 30-of-51 for 253 yards and one touchdown.
Zappe also was sacked six times and had a QB rating of 78.3.
Cunningham joined the Patriots as an undrafted free agent out of Louisville this year and saw time at both quarterback and wide receiver.
But his preseason numbers were less than impressive: 3-of-6 passing for 19 yards, six rushes for 39 yards and one touchdown, plus one reception.
The Patriots had already trimmed their quarterback depth on Monday when they cut Trace McSorley.
Tuesday’s cuts came ahead of the 4 p.m. ET deadline for NFL teams to cut down their rosters to 53 players.
If Zappe and Cunningham clear waivers the Patriots could choose to sign either player to a practice squad deal, which, according to MassLive’s Karen Guregian, is New England’s hope.
With the regular season only a little less than two weeks away, the Patriots will be scouring the wavier and trade markets in order to find a backup quarterback.
Colt McCoy was released by the Cardinals on Monday and could be an option for New England.
The Patriots open the 2023 regular season at home against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sept. 10.
They’ll then have a pair of divisional games, hosting the Dolphins in Week 2 and visiting Aaron Rodgers and the Jets in Week 3.
