Bailey Zappe torched the Browns in a 38-15 Patriots win as a rookie in 2022. On Saturday in Baltimore, he will get his first game action for the Browns.
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.
Takeaways from Browns interviews …
Are you ready for Zappe Time?
Well … it’s coming.
The new year will dawn in Baltimore with Bailey Zappe probably getting some playing time against the Ravens on Saturday.
The game means far more to the Ravens than the Browns. A win clinches the AFC North title and home playoff game for the Ravens. They can also clinch with a Pittsburgh loss to Cincinnati later Saturday evening. The Browns want to secure their best draft position possible and have a chance to move from No. 3 to possibly No. 1 overall with their 14th loss.
There is no pretense of their intentions.
Coach Kevin Stefanski would not say whether Dorian Thompson-Robinson would receive his third consecutive start, but he confirmed both quarterbacks would play. He declined to say if he would divide the play time into first half and second half, which is standard procedure for a team’s final, ahem, exhibition game.
“I’m going to work through that this week,” Stefanski said. “There’s certainly a chance that I could play Bailey and Dorian in this game. Jameis [Winston] is still working through that shoulder injury, so I envision him being the emergency quarterback in this game and then there’s potential to play both guys.”
The Browns’ total shutdown of Winston over the last three games is a strong indicator he will not be back in 2025 and the team will look again for a cheap veteran QB to bridge the gap to the next young starting hopeful.
The reason the Browns want to play Zappe is to determine whether he should be re-signed for a longer look over the spring season and training camp. Zappe will be a restricted free agent. The Browns could tender a contract offer to Zappe that would severely restrict his ability to move to another team.
In 14 appearances in 2022-23 with the Patriots, Zappe was 4-4 as a starter and completed 192 of 304 passes for 2,053 yards, 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. His career passer rating is 78.5.
As a rookie in 2022, Zappe beat the Browns in Huntington Bank Field, 38-15, when he threw for 309 yards and two touchdowns on 24-of-34 passing. His 118.4 passer rating that day is the best of his brief career.
DTR has struggled in his two starts, dropping his career mark to 1-4. He has completed 119 of 227 passes for 867 yards, 1 TD and 10 INTs. His rating is 44.8.
Zappe has labored as the scout team quarterback since being signed off the Kansas City Chiefs’ practice squad while the Browns’ season went down the toilet.
As for resting other veteran players in Baltimore, Stefanski said, “If guys are able to play physically, they will play.”
Take a bow
Safety Rodney McLeod will play in his 183rd and final NFL game in Baltimore. That alone is quite an achievement for an undrafted player.
McLeod entered the NFL with the St. Louis Rams on special teams in 2012. He went on to make 147 starts at safety with the Rams, Eagles, Colts and Browns over 13 seasons. He announced this would be his last year before the season began.
“Honesty, [I’m] just staying present, living in the moment, taking things one day at a time,” McLeod said of his emotions. “Really, just cherishing every single day that I have left. Looking forward to preparing one last week with my guys looking for a victory.”
McLeod has dabbled in media this season and might pursue that endeavor after retirement.
“It’s a possibility,” he said. “We’ll see if the other side of the camera is for me.”
Jerry’s World
Jerry Jeudy said he wasn’t aware he was six receptions shy of the franchise all-time record for receptions (89) in a season.
“If it happens, it happens,” he said. “Hopefully, it happens with a win.”
It’s possible that Jeudy could break the Browns’ record on a pass from Zappe. Who saw that coming at training camp at The Greenbrier?
That would be the answer to a great trivia question in the future: Who threw Jerry Jeudy the pass to break the Browns’ reception record in a season?
Brownie bits
Stefanski disclosed the Browns let Mike Vrabel out of his consultant contract early so that he could get a headstart on the 2025 hiring cycle. “Coach Vrabes is one of my favorites. Just a rock-solid human,” Stefanski said. “Was a great help to this football team. A great help to me. Great help to our scout team defense. He’s going to do great. Part of adjusting his contract was letting him get a head start on some of these interviews, and I think a team will be lucky to have him.” …
It's all but official that Stefanski will return for his sixth season as head coach in 2025 despite by far the worst record in his five years. “I have the blinders on to this week,” he said of his thoughts about that. “I have a lot of conversations with ownership. They’ve been extremely supportive this season. Obviously, they share in the disappointment for where we are right this minute, but really the focus is on this game.” …
Cedric Tillman is still in concussion protocol, so the Browns made the procedural move of placing him on IR. The second-year receiver missed the last six games. Stefanski did not express concern about Tillman’s ability to be ready for the offseason program in April …
Another reason Tillman was IR’d is the Browns are thin at running back with Jerome Ford (ankle) and Pierre Strong (concussion) on the injury list. The Browns re-signed All-Berea running back John Kelly to join D’Onta Foreman as the probable backs in Baltimore …
Tight end David Njoku, who has missed the past three games with hamstring and knee injuries, has not been ruled out, Stefanski said.