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Bailey Zappe, Patriots starting quarterback in Week 13

The Kansas City Chiefs don’t have much drama at the top of their quarterback position, where former league MVP Patrick Mahomes is looking to lead the team to a fourth consecutive Super Bowl.

But the team could have a bit of competition for the backup job, with a pair of veterans vying for the chance to serve as the No. 2. One analyst believes that a former starter could find himself on the wrong side of the roster bubble — and facing a fight to even find a spot on the practice squad.

Chief Added Steady Backup to Patrick Mahomes

The Chiefs made an investment in the No. 2 position when they signed journeyman Gardner Minshew to a two-year contract. Minshew shared starting duties for the Las Vegas Raiders last season, completing 66.3% of his passes for 2,013 yards, nine touchdowns and 10 interceptions in 10 games.

Jesse Newell of the Kansas City Star predicted that Minshew would earn the No. 2 job this summer and leave two others fighting for what could be the remaining spot on the practice squad.

“Barring injuries, the Chiefs should keep two quarterbacks as they have in past seasons, with both Bailey Zappe and Chris Oladokun as practice-squad candidates,” Newell wrote.

Zappe showed flashes of potential through his first two seasons in the NFL with the New England Patriots, starting eight games. He made one start with the Cleveland Browns last season. Zappe completed 62.1% of his passes for 2,223 yards with 12 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.

He likely could have competed for a No. 2 job elsewhere, but will face a challenge in making the final roster in Kansas City.

Gardner Minshew Excited to Join Chiefs

Minshew said he had his eyes on the Chiefs when he was cut loose by the Raiders and hit free agency. He noted that the Chiefs looked at him back when he came into the NFL in 2019.

“I knew in my head that this was where I wanted to be,” Minshew said, via ESPN. “I took a predraft visit with the Chiefs back in the day coming into the league and I feel like everything went really well. Just talking to Coach Reid then and understanding what they’re all about, I always knew that that’d be a really good fit.”

Minshew added that he had a good discussion with head coach Andy Reid and believed in the team’s vision for him.

“To get on the phone with Coach Reid and get to hear what they’re talking about and also to hear how he sees me fitting and how he values my personality and what I bring to the table, that just fires me up so much to be somewhere that you feel appreciated and valued and obviously by somebody you respect so much and has had so much success to doing it,” Minshew said.

The Chiefs likely won’t want to see Minshew take the field this season, with the durable Mahomes missing little time outside of meaningless games at the end of the season when the team has clinched its playoff position.

Nathan Dougherty is a sports reporter covering the NFL for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Buffalo Bills, Detroit Lions and Miami Dolphins. Previously he wrote for the Rochester Business Journal and served as the assistant editor of athletic trade magazines Coaching Management, Athletic Management and Training & Conditioning. He is based out of Rochester, New York, and loves everything football. More about Nathan Dougherty