The Patriots entered their Week 4 matchup against the Packers with their backup quarterback Brian Hoyer starting in place of Mac Jones. The second-year quarterback had suffered an ankle injury against the Ravens and was declared out on Saturday.
Hoyer, 36, was expected to provide the Patriots with a steady, experienced hand to guide them in a tough game in Green Bay.
He lasted just one quarter before exiting the game with a head injury. He was quickly declared out for the contest, and as a result, the Patriots had to move on to their backup quarterback for the game — and their third-stringer normally — to take over.
That thrust rookie Bailey Zappe into his first NFL action. He will now be tasked with keeping the Patriots competitive at Lambeau Stadium.
But who is Bailey Zappe? Here's what to know about the latest man to take a snap at quarterback for New England.
MORE: How long is Mac Jones out? Latest updates on QB's ankle injury
Who is Bailey Zappe?
Zappe, 23, was a fourth-round pick by the Patriots in the 2022 NFL Draft. He played five seasons of college football, four at FCS powerhouse Houston Baptist before transferring to Western Kentucky to finish his career.
Zappe was prolific during his lone year with the Hilltoppers. He found a lot of success in Western Kentucky's pass-happy, spread offense, and he set several FBS passing records, completing 69.2 percent of his passes for an NCAA-record 5,967 yards, 62 touchdowns and just 11 interceptions.
Zappe's success at Western Kentucky put him on many draft boards. The 6-1, 215-pound quarterback was a hyper-accurate passer who demonstrated good decision-making on tape. While there were some questions about his overall arm strength and how long it would take him to transition to a pro-style offense, he did enough to establish himself as a mid-round prospect in the 2022 NFL Draft.
The Patriots selected Zappe and seemed to eye him as a long-term backup and insurance policy behind Jones. They gave him plenty of action during the preseason, and he threw for 464 yards — good for the fourth-most in the NFL — in three games but recorded just one touchdown and three interceptions.
Now, he is getting his first regular-season action against a 2-1 Green Bay squad.
MORE: Breaking down the Patriots' quarterback depth chart
Why the Patriots drafted Bailey Zappe
The Patriots selected Zappe because they need a long-term answer at the backup quarterback spot. New England has long employed Brian Hoyer as its backup, but that won't last forever.
Hoyer is 36 and hasn't won a start since 2016. The Patriots have largely entrusted him as their No. 2 quarterback, but haven't been afraid to cut him when in need of a roster spot. That's why Hoyer has had three separate stints with the Patriots, interspersed throughout time spent with the Steelers, Cardinals, Browns, Texans, Bears, 49ers and Colts.
The Patriots are willing to trust Hoyer for the time being. They confirmed that by signing him to a two-year contract extension on eve of free agency, meaning he will be with the team through 2023.
However, the team likely views Zappe as its heir apparent. His presence is part of the reason the Patriots were comfortable trading Jarrett Stidham to the Raiders during the offseason.
The Patriots certainly didn't draft Zappe to compete with Jones for the starting job, at least not out of the chute. Zappe still has a lot of growing to do after playing just one FBS season at a non-Power 5 conference in a quarterback-friendly spread offense. The Patriots can take time to develop him. He is a good fit for the team, but New England is in no rush to find a new starter after Jones' solid rookie season.