Ex-Patriots QB Bailey Zappe will start for his new team on Sunday

With Deshaun Watson out and Jameis Winston dealing with a shoulder injury, Cleveland gets a dose of Zappe Fever.

Bailey Zappe AP Photo/Matt Freed

January 2, 2025

1 minute to read

Bailey Zappe, who started six games for the Patriots last year, will make his first start of the season for the Cleveland Browns on Sunday.

The Patriots cut Zappe in August, and the Chiefs signed him to their practice squad shortly after. Then, the Browns signed him off of the Chiefs practice squad last month after.

Deshaun Watson, who began the year as Cleveland’s starting quarterback, suffered a season-ending achilles injury in October.

Jameis Winston, who was backing up Watson, has missed the last two games with a shoulder injury and is expected to be Cleveland’s emergency third quarterback on Sunday according to ESPN. Dorian Thompson Robinson, who started the games Winston missed, did not play well enough to keep the job.

The Browns are now turning to Zappe, who went 4-4 as a starter over two seasons with the Patriots. His second career start was a 38-15 New England victory over the Browns. He went 24-34 for 309 yards, a pair of touchdowns, and no interceptions in that game.

Zappe’s performance has been up and down over the first three years of his career. He is 127-for-212 as a passer with 11 touchdowns against 12 interceptions. He took over for Mac Jones last season after the former first-round pick was benched multiple times.

Zappe led the Patriots to wins over the Broncos and Steelers last season, but ended the season with a 2-4 record.

According to ESPN, Zappe is the 40th quarterback to start for the Browns since 1999, which is the most in the NFL.

The start will be Zappe’s first appearance of the season. The Browns will take on the Ravens on Sunday at 4:30 in Baltimore. Cleveland (3-13) is in a four-way tie with the Patriots, Titans, and Giants for the worst record in the NFL.

Because the Patriots had the weakest strength of schedule of the teams they’re tied with, New England can clinch the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft with a loss to Buffalo on Sunday.