Zappe spent the last two seasons with the New England Patriots, starting eight games in 2022 and 2023. The Patriots drafted Zappe in the fourth round in '22 after he threw for 5,967 yards and 62 touchdowns in his lone year at Western Kentucky —both FBS single-season records.

“A new QB in Cleveland: The #Browns are signing Bailey Zappe off the #Chiefs practice squad, per sources. With Deshaun Watson’s season over and Dorian Thompson-Robinson’s status in flux, Jameis Winston could start Sunday vs. Baltimore and Zappe would back him up. ”