If there was one clear message behind the Patriots’ decision to sign quarterback Will Grier off of the Bengals’ practice squad and onto their 53-man roster Thursday, it’s that current backup Bailey Zappe shouldn’t get too comfortable.
But Zappe should have known that already. He was a surprise cut in late August just to pass through waivers and sign to the Patriots’ practice squad. For a brief time, Mac Jones was the Patriots’ only quarterback on the entire roster. Panthers 2022 third-round pick Matt Corral was claimed to the 53-man roster before he left the team without notice and landed on the exempt list. Only then did Zappe get a promotion to the 53-man roster.
The Patriots briefly added another former fourth-round pick to the practice squad in Ian Book before waiving Corral with the original intention of signing him to their practice squad.
Plans changed, and now Grier is on board as the Patriots continue to rifle through signal callers.
If Grier performs well enough, he’ll compete with Zappe for the backup quarterback spot, according to a source. The team wants to continue to push Zappe, who they feel did not perform well during training camp and the preseason in new offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien’s offense.
So, what do the Patriots have in their new QB?
Grier, 28, played college ball at Florida and West Virginia before he was selected in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft by the Panthers. He said at the NFL Scouting Combine in 2019 that he incorporated elements of the Patriots’ offense into West Virginia’s system with then-offensive coordinator Jake Spivatal.
He was cut by the Panthers two years later and claimed by the Cowboys. Grier lost his job in Dallas after the Cowboys acquired 2021 first-round pick Trey Lance in a trade with the 49ers, so the 6-foot-3, 215-pound QB spent the early part of the season on the Bengals’ practice squad.
Grier started two games as a rookie in 2019 and had a tough go. The Panthers lost both contests, and Grier completed 53.8 percent of his passes for 228 yards with no touchdowns and four interceptions.
He impressed in the preseason this summer, however, completing 76.2 percent of his targets with four passing touchdowns and two interceptions. He also rushed seven times for 60 yards with two touchdowns.
After being signed off the Bengals’ practice squad, Grier will need to spend three weeks on the Patriots’ active roster or be paid for that time period. The Patriots were fine with losing Zappe as their backup when they waived him in August, and now they’re bringing in another QB to compete for his job. Zappe will either be pushed by Grier to keep the No. 2 role or lose it to his latest competitor.
Stay tuned.
Story by Doug Kyed, Boston Herald