1:17pm: The Browns made this move official. Zappe will take Watson’s roster spot, with the high-priced starter being moved to IR following his Week 7 Achilles tear. Watson will undergo surgery in the near future, though, it is not yet known if a full repair or an Aaron Rodgers-like speed-bridge procedure will take place.
8:42am: In need of a healthy depth option at quarterback, the Browns are making an addition. Cleveland is set to sign Bailey Zappe off the Chiefs’ practice squad, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports. 
Deshaun Watson is out for the year with a torn Achilles, leaving the team with Dorian Thompson-Robinson and Jameis Winston at the quarterback position. Thompson-Robinson took over for Watson on Sunday, but he suffered a finger injury and was also forced to exit the contest. It remains to be seen when the 2023 fourth-rounder will next be available, so Zappe could find himself dressing as the backup as early as Week 8.
The 25-year-old began his career with the Patriots, making a pair of starts during his rookie campaign. The promise he showed during that spell proved to be rather short-lived, though, and he was briefly out of the organization ahead of last season. Zappe was brought back, and with Mac Jones struggling he finished off the year atop New England’s depth chart. Despite having eight starts to his name, Zappe again found himself on the outside looking in this past summer, as the Patriots waived him. They have moved forward with veteran Jacoby Brissett along with rookies Drake Maye and Joe Milton under center.
The Chiefs acted quickly by signing Zappe to their practice squad. That move added depth behind Patrick Mahomes and new backup Carson Wentz, signed in free agency to take on QB2 duties. Both of those passers have remained healthy this season, leaving Zappe without a clear path to a place on the 53-man roster. He will now head to Cleveland in a bid to compete for a spot on the team’s roster even after Thompson-Robinson is healthy. Zappe has completed 63.2% of his passes while throwing more interceptions (12) than touchdowns (11) and adding sparse production in the running game during his career.
Those figures are not particularly encouraging, but this move will give him a fresh start at the NFL level. The Western Kentucky product could earn a stay beyond 2024 with the Browns in the event he were to see playing time and deliver solid performances. If not, how Cleveland proceeds in the offseason will become even more uncertain with Watson not being assured of the starting gig once he is healthy.
For the time being, Winston will likely be in line to make his first start of the year as Thompson-Robinson continues to recover. The 1-6 Browns sit last in the NFL in total offense and 29th in scoring, and whichever quarterbacks are used moving forward will look to usher in improvement on that side of the ball (something which could be feasible with Nick Chubb now healthy). Cleveland will look to end Baltimore’s five-game winning streak in Week 8 with a notably different looking QB room.
Can Bailey refuse to go? If so he should. Take your ball and go home. I’d rather be on the Chiefs practice squad than the Browns roster.
Signing means he signed a contract, so yeah he could say no. But the maximum practice squad salary is $21,300 a week while the minimum active roster salary for someone with two years experience is 54,722 a week. Pretty big difference for a fringe NFL player.
That’s good money man I could buy a new Toyota every week lmao
I would say saving as much as possible and putting it in index funds would be wise, but hey, I guess a new Toyota every week is also an investment strategy.
Hahaha you’re right I’m just kidding
Won’t matter who the QB is, as long as Stefanski is still calling the plays. He’s the root of the problem.
Superbowl here we come !!!
The Browns were obviously influenced by the 115.2 passer rating Zappe has against the Steelers.
They should’ve signed Jake Fromm State Farm off the Detroit practice squad.
That Winston drive was the best drive Cleveland had all year
I’m shocked the Haslam hasn’t contacted Kopernick yet
This should have been the guy the LV team could have snagged.
Wow! The Niners are wasting Josh Dobbs by using him as a #3. Should have picked him up
Sounds like a Cleveland Browns quarterback for sure. Add to the running list of no name browns quarterbacks. I predict he runs into his left tackle and leaves the third quarter concussed only to leave the Browns with their punter as the emergency quarterback