Behind the battle for the Patriots’ starting quarterback job, another position competition has unfolded this summer.

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Third-year backup Bailey Zappe has fought sixth-round rookie Joe Milton for the No. 3 job every day. Zappe and Milton shared most of the third-string reps in recent practices, as they did again Wednesday. Sometimes, that leaves as few as three or five reps in a day.

Despite that, Zappe believes he’s done enough to show the coaching staff he belongs.

“When we talked first in training camp, the biggest thing I wanted to fix was turnovers,” he said after Wednesday’s practices. “Those last two games versus the Bills and the Jets (last year), that was a big problem; five interceptions in the last two weeks. So going into this training camp, no interceptions, no turnovers. And we preach here ball security is job security, so that’s kind of been my focal point.

“Obviously we’ve got another game Sunday, so I’ve got to keep it up.”

Last season, Zappe started the Patriots’ final six games. He completed 59.9% of his passes for 1,272 yards, six touchdowns and nine interceptions. Since then, the team traded former starter Mac Jones, signed projected starter Jacoby Brissett and drafted Maye and Milton last April.

Extra points

Mayo wouldn’t announce whether wide receiver Kendrick Bourne or linebacker Sione Takitaki, who haven’t practiced this summer, would start the season on the PUP list, which would keep them out for four games. He would only say that “when those guys are ready to come back, they’ll be out here practicing” … Safety Marte Mapu suffered an undisclosed injury early in training camp. Mayo still called the 2024 third-round pick “week to week” … Outside linebacker Josh Uche hasn’t practiced since Thursday’s preseason game. Mayo said Uche’s injury isn’t major … Mayo on adding wide receiver Matt Landers and outside linebackers Kobe Jones and Christian McCarroll: “The thought process was, look, bringing in some players that we’ve identified as being potential candidates to be on our team, and see what they have” … Executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf will have final say on next week’s roster cuts, which are due Tuesday Aug. 27 at 4 p.m. ET.