Patriots cut Bailey Zappe, Malik Cunningham

As NFL teams got down to their final 53-man rosters on Tuesday, the New England Patriots cut everyone not named Mac Jones basically. Backup QBs Bailey Zappe (a fan-favorite) and Malik Cunningham (after a strong preseason) were both waived by the team.

Zappe, a fourth-rounder in 2022, appeared in two games as a rookie - and played well enough for fans to scream incessantly that they wanted him to start over Jones. Cunningham, who was an undrafted free agent out of Louisville in 2023, had a strong preseason.

Fans and media weren't the only ones a little shocked by the moves. Patriots special-teamer Matthew Slater said the news that Zappe was being cut was a shock to the whole locker room.

Matthew Slater said he has “mixed emotions” about Bailey Zappe’s release.

“Certainly, something like that is, I guess, surprising to a lot of us.”

“I love Bailey. He knows how I feel about him. He’s one of my favorite kids all-time.” pic.twitter.com/EBIpj0xYWT

— Zack Cox (@ZackCoxNESN) August 29, 2023

It's possible that one, or both will end up on someone else's roster - or someone's practice squad.

more qb news:

• Jimmy Garoppolo has had a ton of time to get to know Trey Lance over the past few seasons when they were both with the San Francisco 49ers. Garoppolo thinks Lance will end up in a good place, but just needs some playing time (we all feel this way, Jimmy). "Excited for Trey. Just a new opportunity for him. Things didn't work out in San Francisco for whatever reasons, but glad that he gets another shot. This league's all about opportunities, and when you get a fresh one like that, you've just got to take advantage of it."
  

• The Cincinnati Bengals released QB Trevor Siemian.
  

The #Bengals have released QB Trevor Siemian, per Trevor

Jake Browning is currently QB2

— Jay Morrison (@ByJayMorrison) August 29, 2023

• The Washington Commanders cut QB Jake Fromm.
  

• The Denver Broncos waived QB Ben DiNucci.
  

• The Cleveland Browns officially waived QB Kellen Mond.
  

• The Chicago Bears will release QB Nathan Peterman, which will leave Tyson Bagent as the backup QB.
  

• The Dallas Cowboys cut QB Will Grier.
  

• The San Francisco 49ers are keeping QB Brandon Allen on the 53-man roster, along with Sam Darnold and Brock Purdy.
  

• The Buffalo Bills put veteran QB Matt Barkley on injured reserve, leaving Kyle Allen as the No. 2 QB.

• QB Tim Boyle was among the New York Jets' final roster cuts.
  

• The Detroit Lions put QB Nate Sudfeld on injured reserve with a torn ACL.
  

• The Baltimore Ravens released both Josh Johnson and Anthony Brown, leaving only two quarterbacks on the 53-man roster.