The Cleveland Browns signed Bailey Zappe off the Kansas City Chiefs’ practice squad to bolster their quarterback options following Deshaun Watson’s injury.
The Browns’ season is in dire straits, as the team has won just one of their seven games and their $230 million QB is now sidelined for the year with an Achilles injury.
Heading into Week 8’s matchup against the Baltimore Ravens, Zappe has now signed with the team and is expected to challenge for the starting job.
Dorian Thompson-Robinson and Jameis Winston are the two existing options at Kevin Stefanski’s disposal, but the former is struggling with a finger injury.
If he is not available on Sunday, Winston is believed to start, with Zappe as the backup.
Bailey Zappe has signed with the Cleveland Browns, coming from the Chiefs’ practice squad
Deshaun Watson was retired with an Achilles injury on Sunday, ending his 2024 season.
Zappe was selected in the fourth round of the 2022 draft by the New England Patriots and started eight games over two seasons under Bill Belichick.
He threw more interceptions (12) than touchdowns (11), but showed flashes of better quarterback play during his time in New England.
With new coach Jerod Mayo set to start over at QB, and the team selecting Drake Maye No. 3 overall, Zappe was released over the summer.
He landed in Kansas City, where he has been on the practice squad, with Patrick Mahomes and Carson Wentz as the team’s active quarterbacks.
The Browns beat the Jacksonville Jaguars in the second game of the NFL season, but have since lost the next five, with Watson’s injury occurring in a 21-14 loss to the Bengals.
Zappe started eight games during his time in New England under the legendary Bill Belichick.
Zappe married his wife Hannah earlier this year while they were still in New England.
Watson was traded to the Browns for six draft picks, including three first-rounders, in 2022, despite being sued by more than two dozen massage therapists for sexual harassment and sexual assault the year before.
Browns owner Jimmy Haslam gave Watson the blockbuster $230 million contract in 2022.
Watson has been involved in several court cases over the past three seasons, and previously reached confidential settlements with 20 women over sexual misconduct claims that saw him suspended for 11 NFL games during the 2022 season.
Last month, it was revealed that he is being sued for more than $1 million by a new woman, who accused him of sexually assaulting her in Texas four years ago. Watson “strongly denies” the allegations.