Even when you’re in the end rooting for the Patriots to lose and enhance their draft place, give the Patriots credit score for switching issues up this week.
It seems the Patriots are making a swap at quarterback forward of their Week 13 matchup with the Chargers.
Here are 4 gamers who might tackle larger roles this week in opposition to a crew the Patriots have overwhelmed in seven straight contests.
QB Bailey Zappe
The second-year professional out of Western Kentucky is the Patriots’ anticipated starter this week in opposition to the Chargers. He hasn’t precisely earned it, however the Patriots had little different selection after benching Mac Jones 4 occasions this season, together with their final two video games.
To recap, Zappe, who gained each of his begins final season, struggled in coaching camp and the preseason and was waived throughout roster cutdowns. No different crew claimed him, so the Patriots signed him to their apply squad. He was added to the 53-man roster forward of Week 1.
And he’s been one of many NFL’s worst quarterbacks in 4 reduction appearances, finishing 19-of-39 passes for 158 yards with two interceptions. He ranks forty eighth out of 49 quarterbacks (minimal 40 dropbacks) in PFF’s passing grade and is useless final in adjusted completion share.
But he was higher than Jones in Week 13 and truly led the Patriots on a scoring drive in opposition to the Giants.
Zappe has completely no excuses if he can’t play higher on Sunday in opposition to a struggling Chargers protection with a full week of apply below his belt.
If Zappe performs properly, then possibly he nonetheless has a future as a Patriots backup quarterback. If he doesn’t, then the Patriots ought to utterly begin over at quarterback in 2024 and play ether Will Grier or Malik Cunningham to complete out the season.
QB/WR Malik Cunningham
The Patriots’ quarterback competitors has dragged on for an additional week. Things are uglier on the place than they’ve been in over 30 years for the Patriots.
So, there’s a case to be made for Cunningham for use as a quarterback in sure packages. He’s begun practising at quarterback once more this week. Last week, he informed the Herald that he hadn’t practiced on the place recurrently since Week 6.
The Patriots are also coping with accidents to rookie broad receivers Demario Douglas and Kayshon Boutte. So, Cunningham might function further depth at slot receiver and on particular groups, as properly.
Cunningham has most likely been overrated by some Patriots followers based mostly on his efficiency within the preseason, when he added a spark in opposition to the Texans. Cunningham was a middling four-year school beginning quarterback at Louisville. But he’s uber-athletic and may definitely be helpful in sure read-option packages if the Patriots wish to be inventive on offense.
WR Tyquan Thornton
Speaking of accidents at broad receiver. Assuming Douglas misses Week 13 along with his second concussion this season, then veteran JuJu Smith-Schuster will probably transfer into his spot within the slot. That would pressure Thornton, a 2022 second-round decide, into the “Z” function that has principally been manned by Smith-Schuster and Kendrick Bourne, who’s on IR, this season.
Thornton has been a reasonably large disappointment since being taken out of Baylor. He’s caught simply 5 passes on 11 targets for 34 yards this season. But after not taking a single offensive snap in Week 10’s loss to the Colts in Germany, Thornton did at the least play 30 snaps final week in opposition to the Giants.
Did he do a lot with them? No. He caught two passes on 4 targets for 19 yards. But at the least he performed.
And now with Zappe probably main the cost at quarterback, it’s time to only let the offense free and see if Thornton can take the highest off of the Chargers’ protection along with his 4.2-second 40-yard-dash pace.
Thornton can be merely enjoying for a task on this crew subsequent season. He hasn’t justified a roster spot based mostly on his play this season. He has to complete sturdy to be a lock for the 2024 crew.
That’s now what you need out of a second-round decide, nevertheless it’s the place Thornton stands.
CB Shaun Wade
Patriots cornerback J.C. Jackson struggled mightily in Week 12 in opposition to the Giants and was recurrently burned by rookie broad receiver Jalin Hyatt. It was ugly, and Wade, a 2021 fifth-round decide by the Ravens, hasn’t been half dangerous this season in prolonged snaps.
Jackson will face off in opposition to the crew that signed him to an enormous five-year contract final offseason after which traded him for pennies on the greenback again to the Patriots this season within the Chargers.
Wade wasn’t anticipated to play a lot this season with Christian Gonzalez, Jonathan Jones, Jack Jones, Marcus Jones and Myles Bryant forward of him on the depth chart. But Gonzalez and Marcus Jones are on injured reserve, and Jack Jones was waived. Jackson was already benched this season for disciplinary causes in opposition to the Commanders and Giants. Given his efficiency, he ought to proceed to have a brief leash in his return to the Patriots.
Source: www.bostonherald.com