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Patriots Backup QB Carousel Keeps Turning With Signing of Former Third-Round Pick

By Jason Schandl

Jul 27, 2022; Oxnard, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Will Grier (15) throws the ball during training camp at the River Ridge Fields. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 27, 2022; Oxnard, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Will Grier (15) throws the ball during training camp at the River Ridge Fields. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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Bailey Zappe? Malik Cunningham? Matt Corral? Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots just can’t figure out what they want to do with the QB2 spot on this roster, and at this point it feels like we might as well call up the Raiders about Brian Hoyer.

But the latest move has been made, bringing Will Grier straight onto the 53-man roster from the Cincinnati Bengals practice squad.

Patriots News: Will Grier Signed

The Patriots signed Will Grier on Friday, and signing him from the Bengals’ practice squad means there was no choice but to bring him directly to the 53-man roster (you can’t sign a player from someone else’s practice squad to your own).

The Patriots seemed to be trying to sign Matt Corrral to the practice squad again this week, but that mysteriously fizzled out. That left us with Mac Jones at QB1, Bailey Zappe at QB2 (on the 53-man roster) and Malik Cunningham at QB3 (on the practice squad).

This move is pretty tough to get an early read on.

Belichick is not one to waste roster spots, so it’s not likely he’d have signed Grier without good reason. And considering he was willing to risk losing Bailey Zappe on waivers to get him onto the practice squad before Week 1, it doesn’t exactly seem like Bill is married to the idea of Zappe as Jones’ backup.

But it’s also not like Grier hasn’t been available. The Cowboys waived him on roster cutdown day, so if Bill liked Grier more than Zappe he’s had plenty of chances to do something about it.

The timing of this move seems like it’s more about not having Corral, even though it’s also costing a 53-man roster spot right now.

At this point, it’s hard to even speculate what Bill’s plans are with the QB room (outside of obviously starting Mac Jones). And really, nothing would surprise me. Forget bringing Brian Hoyer or Tom Brady back, I’m half expecting to see Damon Huard and Rohan Davey back in Foxborough next week.

Grier was a third-round pick for the Carolina Panthers in 2019, but he was brutal in his only two starts (28-of-52 for 228 yards with 0 touchdowns and 4 interceptions) and has since been a full-time backup.

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