FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The New England Patriots quarterback depth chart is back to where it started, as the club intends to sign Bailey Zappe to the 53-man roster Saturday and release Matt Corral, according to sources.
Zappe, who spent the past week on the practice squad, will serve as the top backup to starter Mac Jones in Sunday's season-opening game against the defending NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles (4:25 p.m.
ET, CBS). Zappe had been released at the final roster cutdown on Aug. 29. Two days later, the Patriots claimed quarterback Corral on waivers from the Carolina Panthers, giving him Zappe's old spot on the 53-man roster.
But Corral was absent from the team's Friday practice for non-injury-related reasons, which was the first indicator there would be a switch back to Zappe.