Report: Patriots Make Decision on Familiar Backup Quarterbacks After Waivers Clear

The Patriots are re-signing Bailey Zappe and Malik Cunningham to their practice squad after the quarterbacks cleared waivers on Wednesday, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports.

New England waived both Zappe and Cunningham on Tuesday, leaving them with Mac Jones as the lone quarterback on the active roster. However, no other team put in a claim for either quarterback, allowing the Patriots to bring them back on the practice squad. Either Zappe or Cunningham will likely serve as Jones’s backup once the season begins.

Last season, Zappe played in four games during his rookie season, leading the team to wins in both of his two starts. The quarterback totaled 781 yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions in 92 passing attempts in 2022.

Cunningham is an undrafted rookie out of Louisville who is listed as both a quarterback and a wide receiver by the team. In five years at Louisville, Cunningham produced 9,664 passing yards and 3,182 rushing yards, and scored 120 touchdowns between rushing and passing.

Watch the Patriots with fuboTV. Start your free trial today.