Even Bailey Zappe doesn’t know who will be the Patriots’ starting QB this week

The New England Patriots have to answer the one question no NFL franchise wants to ask: Who will be the starting quarterback this week? While their entire depth chart is available entering into Sunday’s game against the New York Giants , that answer remains TBD.

Incumbent Mac Jones, who has served as the Patriots’ starting QB since his arrival as a 2021 first-round draft pick, has played the worst football of his career. He was benched three times already this season — including in crunch time of a 10-6 loss to the Indianapolis Colts the last time New England played a game.

In all three instances, second-year passer Bailey Zappe took over. Zappe looked no better in his limited opportunities, but there appears to be a realistic chance the team hands him the keys to its offense versus the Giants.

As of Friday afternoon, Zappe did not know what would happen. Regardless, he is sticking to the routine he established ever since his own arrival last offseason.

“Treating it like every other game week,” he told reporters at his locker on Friday.

“My plan’s [the same] every week: just be prepared, take every rep like it’s a game rep. And if my number’s called to start this week, then it’s called. If not, then I’m going to try to do my best to help my teammate.”

Zappe saw a surprising amount of action as a rookie in 2022, and led the Patriots to two victories while filling in for an injured Mac Jones (as well as an injured Brian Hoyer). However, he headed back to the bench as soon as Jones was good to go again.

His second season in New England started off in disappointing fashion. Despite the relative success he enjoyed the previous year and his seemingly undisputed status as QB2, Zappe was released ahead of roster cutdowns. He did re-sign with the Patriots’ practice squad and was later signed back to the active roster, but that move was an ominous sign.

But while the Patriots did their best to upgrade their backup spot behind Jones, it remained Zappe’s throughout the first 10 games of the season. Heading into the 11th, the former fourth-round draft pick might no move up the depth chart.

Zappe knows he needs to stay on his toes even if Jones does get the start after all.

“You have to stay ready, no matter what it is,” he said. “Your number may be called after the first play, or after the 10th play, or however many reps there are. It can be called any time. You just have to stay ready.”

Zappe had to do just that in blowout losses to the Dallas Cowboys and New Orleans Saints , and the aforementioned defeat against the Colts in Indianapolis. His readiness did not translate to much on-field success, however: he has completed just 10 of his 25 pass attempts for 104 yards with one interception.

“Whenever I get those opportunities, I have to go in there and do my job,” Zappe said. “Haven’t done that to the best of my abilities, so when the next opportunity comes — whenever it is, this week, next week, whenever — I’ll make sure to take advantage of that opportunity, and just try to go out there and help the team win.”

The Patriots and head coach Bill Belichick will tip their hand eventually. And whether that leads them to starting Mac Jones or Bailey Zappe, one universal truth remains: they have a major problem at the worst position to have it.

That doesn’t mean that Zappe, or Jones, or third-stringer Will Grier, won’t give it their all should their number be called.