The Patriots’ backup QB carousel continues. The workforce is waiving quarterback Will Grier, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The transfer clears a spot for observe squad offensive lineman Conor McDermott to affix the 53-man roster, per Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald.
Whereas Mac Jones has began each sport for the Patriots this season, the depth chart behind him has seen loads of reshuffling. Projected backup (and potential QB1 fill-in) Bailey Zappe was bounced from the roster after the preseason, solely to later rejoin the energetic roster through the observe squad. Former third-round choose Matt Corral was additionally briefly on the workforce earlier than finally incomes his strolling papers.
The Patriots then pivoted to Grier as a possible backup choice. Grier most just lately served as one in every of Dak Prescott‘s backups in Dallas, however following the Cowboys’ acquisition of Trey Lance, the 2019 third-round choose was reduce free. After a short stint on the Bengals observe squad, Grier was added to New England’s 53-man roster again in late September.
Grier hasn’t seen the sphere in any respect this season, and even with the Patriots’ unsure QB scenario, it was unlikely he was going to earn a promotion from his QB3 function. Coach Invoice Belichick admitted as a lot throughout a latest look on Patriots All-Entry.
“If you’re new and haven’t been right here in coaching camp and had the complete background of OTAs and an opportunity to run our core performs, it’s lots to compensate for,” Belichick mentioned. “Will has executed a very good job of it. There’s no points with him. It’s simply there’s solely so many snaps on the market.”
With Grier now not on the roster, Malik Cunningham may very well be in line for snaps if the Patriots pivot from each Jones and Zappe. The UDFA out of Louisville has spent a lot of the season working with the Patriots receivers, though the group hasn’t utterly shut the door on his QB talents. For what it’s price, the rookie did tell Kyed that he’s not a part of the workforce’s plans at quarterback on Sunday in opposition to the Giants.
So, as anticipated, that leaves Jones and Zappe because the candidates to start out Week 12. The Patriots nonetheless haven’t introduced who will begin the sport, however with Jones having reportedly misplaced “not less than 80 percent of the Patriots’ locker room,” there appears to be some actual momentum towards Zappe incomes his first begin of the season. The 2022 fourth-round choose confirmed some flashes as a rookie, however the Patriots have been reluctant to show to the second-year professional in 2023.
That lack of religion may very well be due to Zappe’s underwhelming performances at observe. As Kyed writes, the second-year professional has struggled underneath new offensive coordinator Invoice O’Brien, and Jones has been the superior QB each step of the best way. Whereas that’s clearly not saying an entire lot, the Patriots could also be struggling to justify a Zappe promotion.