FOXBORO — The Patriots have a tough backup quarterback scenario to navigate earlier than their first sport of the season Sunday towards the Eagles.
Mac Jones is the staff’s unquestioned starter. Then it will get sophisticated.
The Patriots have Matt Corral on their 53-man roster, however he was solely claimed off of waivers final week and has had restricted time to study the staff’s offense. Bailey Zappe — Jones’ backup for many of final season — was waived throughout roster cuts final Tuesday and was signed again to the observe squad Wednesday.
The staff has to determine by Saturday whether or not Zappe or Corral will again up Jones.
“Yeah, that’s a decision we’ll have to kind of finalize here today,” Patriots head coach Bill Belichick stated Friday when requested if Corral has spent sufficient time within the system. “I think it’s a consideration. Bailey certainly has the advantage on experience and time in the system and all of that. We’ll see how that all plays out. We have different options there. We’ll see how that goes. We’ll try to make the best one.”
Corral was not current at observe Friday, so it appears at the very least extra seemingly that Zappe might be counted on in Week 1.
The Patriots have two choices if they need Zappe to be the backup. First, they might elevate him from the observe squad. Teams can solely elevate two gamers from the observe squad per week, nonetheless, and gamers can solely be elevated 3 times in a season. So, the Patriots may elevate Zappe in Weeks 1, 2 and three earlier than having to make a remaining determination on their backup.
The Patriots may additionally simply signal Zappe to the 53-man roster, however they don’t at the moment have an open spot. So, they must lower somebody to make room for him.
The Patriots will seemingly must elevate at the very least one operating again from the observe squad since they’ve simply two gamers on the place on their 53-man roster in Rhamondre Stevenson and Ezekiel Elliott. Stevenson wasn’t noticed at observe Friday.
The Patriots is also shallow at vast receiver, cornerback and on their offensive line on account of different accidents.
Source: www.bostonherald.com