Even if you’re ultimately rooting for the Patriots to lose and improve their draft position, give the Patriots credit for switching things up this week.

It appears the Patriots are making a switch at quarterback ahead of their Week 13 matchup with the Chargers.

Related Articles

Patriots new starting QB must depend on cast of disappointing receivers

Patriots-Chargers injury report: Keenan Allen questionable, two Pats WRs out

Patriots missing two WRs at final practice before Chargers game

Bill Belichick shares what he’s seen from Bailey Zappe in practice

Patriots mailbag: Will Malik Cunningham get another shot in Week 13?

Here are four players who could take on bigger roles this week against a team the Patriots have beaten in seven straight contests.

QB Bailey Zappe

The second-year pro out of Western Kentucky is the Patriots’ expected starter this week against the Chargers. He hasn’t exactly earned it, but the Patriots had little other choice after benching Mac Jones four times this season, including their last two games.

To recap, Zappe, who won both of his starts last season, struggled in training camp and the preseason and was waived during roster cutdowns. No other team claimed him, so the Patriots signed him to their practice squad. He was added to the 53-man roster ahead of Week 1.

And he’s been one of the NFL’s worst quarterbacks in four relief appearances, completing 19-of-39 passes for 158 yards with two interceptions. He ranks 48th out of 49 quarterbacks (minimum 40 dropbacks) in PFF’s passing grade and is dead last in adjusted completion percentage.

But he was better than Jones in Week 13 and actually led the Patriots on a scoring drive against the Giants.

Zappe has absolutely no excuses if he can’t play better on Sunday against a struggling Chargers defense with a full week of practice under his belt.

If Zappe plays well, then maybe he still has a future as a Patriots backup quarterback. If he doesn’t, then the Patriots should completely start over at quarterback in 2024 and play ether Will Grier or Malik Cunningham to finish out the season.

QB/WR Malik Cunningham

The Patriots’ quarterback competition has dragged on for another week. Things are uglier at the position than they’ve been in over 30 years for the Patriots.

So, there’s a case to be made for Cunningham to be used as a quarterback in certain packages. He’s begun practicing at quarterback again this week. Last week, he told the Herald that he hadn’t practiced at the position regularly since Week 6.

The Patriots also are dealing with injuries to rookie wide receivers Demario Douglas and Kayshon Boutte. So, Cunningham could serve as additional depth at slot receiver and on special teams, as well.

Cunningham has probably been overrated by some Patriots fans based on his performance in the preseason, when he added a spark against the Texans. Cunningham was a middling four-year college starting quarterback at Louisville. But he’s uber-athletic and can certainly be useful in certain read-option packages if the Patriots want to be creative on offense.

WR Tyquan Thornton

Speaking of injuries at wide receiver. Assuming Douglas misses Week 13 with his second concussion this season, then veteran JuJu Smith-Schuster will likely move into his spot in the slot. That would force Thornton, a 2022 second-round pick, into the “Z” role that has mostly been manned by Smith-Schuster and Kendrick Bourne, who’s on IR, this season.

Thornton has been a pretty massive disappointment since being taken out of Baylor. He’s caught just five passes on 11 targets for 34 yards this season. But after not taking a single offensive snap in Week 10’s loss to the Colts in Germany, Thornton did at least play 30 snaps last week against the Giants.

Did he do much with them? No. He caught two passes on four targets for 19 yards. But at least he played.

And now with Zappe likely leading the charge at quarterback, it’s time to just let the offense loose and see if Thornton can take the top off of the Chargers’ defense with his 4.2-second 40-yard-dash speed.

Thornton is also simply playing for a role on this team next season. He hasn’t justified a roster spot based on his play this season. He has to finish strong to be a lock for the 2024 team.

That’s now what you want out of a second-round pick, but it’s where Thornton stands.

CB Shaun Wade

Patriots cornerback J.C. Jackson struggled mightily in Week 12 against the Giants and was regularly burned by rookie wide receiver Jalin Hyatt. It was ugly, and Wade, a 2021 fifth-round pick by the Ravens, hasn’t been half bad this season in extended snaps.

Jackson will face off against the team that signed him to a massive five-year contract last offseason and then traded him for pennies on the dollar back to the Patriots this season in the Chargers.

Wade wasn’t expected to play much this season with Christian Gonzalez, Jonathan Jones, Jack Jones, Marcus Jones and Myles Bryant ahead of him on the depth chart. But Gonzalez and Marcus Jones are on injured reserve, and Jack Jones was waived. Jackson was already benched this season for disciplinary reasons against the Commanders and Giants. Given his performance, he should continue to have a short leash in his return to the Patriots.