What Invoice Belichick stated concerning the Patriots’ backup QB scenario forward of Sunday’s season opener

Previous to Friday’s follow, Patriots coach Invoice Belichick admitted that the backup quarterback scenario was “a call we’re going to should finalize right here at present.” He was additionally a bit extra open than ordinary about sharing his ideas on the scenario between Corral and Zappe.

“I feel it’s a consideration,” Belichick informed reporters when requested if he felt comfy making Corral the No. 2 quarterback simply over every week after he joined the crew. “Bailey definitely has the benefit on expertise and time within the system and all that, so we’ll see how that each one performs out. We now have a few totally different choices there, so we’ll type of see how that goes, attempt to make the most effective one.”

As Zappe has the “benefit on expertise and time within the system,” the Patriots might signal him again to the 53-man roster forward of Sunday’s recreation. That transfer would doubtless require them to waive Corral because the crew may want the utmost of two follow squad call-ups allowed as a result of accidents to DeVante Parker, Mike Onwenu, Cole Unusual, and Jack Jones. Rhamondre Stevenson was additionally reportedly lacking from Friday’s absence.

If the Patriots plan to waive Corral, they’d danger dropping him on waivers identical to they did with Zappe following cutdown day. Corral might rejoin the Patriots on their follow squad if he clears waivers. However he might additionally select to signal with one other crew’s follow squad, just like the Panthers, who launched him from their 53-man roster final week.

Corral, who the Panthers chosen within the third spherical of the 2022 NFL Draft, has but to play in an NFL regular-season recreation after he suffered a Lisfranc damage in the course of the preseason as a rookie. The Patriots appeared impressed with what they noticed with Corral via his first few days with the crew, with offensive coordinator Invoice O’Brien praising his work ethic on Tuesday.

“Matt has been right here morning, midday, and night time,” O’Brien informed reporters on Tuesday. “And he’s doing an excellent job of studying. And we simply must hold progressing him. You may’t throw the whole lot at him without delay as a result of that’s quite a lot of info.

“So, we attempt to do an excellent job of giving them the issues which are essential for him proper now. And it’s a crew effort, and he’s completed an excellent job of simply coming in right here and attempting to study and soak it up.”

As for Zappe, he opted to stay with the Patriots on their follow squad, turning down curiosity from seven groups to hitch their respective follow rosters, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. Zappe appeared in 4 video games for the Patriots as a rookie in 2022, beginning in two of them because the Patriots received each of his begins.