Every Cleveland Browns fan has seen that infamous quarterback jersey with the names of dozens of the team’s starting quarterbacks over the past few decades pasted onto it. After starting four different QBs last year and five the year before, that list just keeps growing and growing to the point that even the most hardcore Browns fans would have a hard time naming everybody on the back of that jersey.
Deshaun Watson was named the starting quarterback to open the 2026 season, but he has only made 19 starts since 2020, so it’s likely the Browns will have to use multiple QBs once again this year. One of those many QBs from the past few years was in the news again, but unfortunately not for great reasons.
Insider Jordan Schultz shared that former Browns QB Bailey Zappe was released by the New York Jets. It wasn’t exactly a shocking move to see the journeyman fail to make the final roster with Geno Smith, Cade Klubnik, and Brady Cook ahead of him on the depth chart.
“Source: The #Jets are releasing QB Bailey Zappe (as @RichCimini also reported),” said Schultz.
Source: The #Jets are releasing QB Bailey Zappe (as @RichCimini also reported). pic.twitter.com/NfrOicnJaE
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) August 29, 2026
Zappe started just one game for the Browns in 2024 and hasn’t seen the field since, but he is forever etched in team history in the record books and on that infamous jersey. He originally signed with the Jets back in January and had a real shot to win the backup job behind Geno Smith, but his two interceptions in preseason were clearly enough to cost him that chance.
The 27-year-old hasn’t been able to recapture the magic that he found earlier in his career with the New England Patriots, and now it’s fair to wonder what’s next for him. Being cut by the Jets after failing to beat out Brady Cook is about as low as it gets for a QB in the NFL.
Hopefully, Zappe gets another shot and can prove himself somewhere soon.
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