CLEVELAND — The quarterback situation for the Cleveland Browns is once again in flux.

Following the season-ending injury to starter Deshaun Watson, who has a ruptured Achilles tendon, and the finger injury affecting backup Dorian Thompson-Robinson’s throwing hand, the Browns are bringing in quarterback Bailey Zappe from Kansas City’s practice squad.

Zappe has experience as he started eight games for the New England Patriots over the past two seasons. At just 25 years old, he joined the Chiefs after being released by the Patriots earlier this summer.

His signing adds an additional layer of support for the Browns, who are currently evaluating options behind Thompson-Robinson and potentially starting Jameis Winston in their upcoming match against Baltimore.

On Monday, head coach Kevin Stefanski indicated that he was waiting for further medical updates regarding Thompson-Robinson, who served as Cleveland’s second-string quarterback on Sunday. In his game, he completed 11 of 24 passes for a total of 82 yards with two interceptions before sustaining his injury.

Last season, as a rookie, Thompson-Robinson had three starts in place of Watson during an injured stretch. The Browns ended up using five different quarterbacks throughout the season, with Joe Flacco stepping in as a free agent and guiding the team into the playoffs.

Watson is set to undergo surgery this week for his torn Achilles, an injury he suffered during a draw play in a recent 21-14 defeat against the Bengals. This marks the second consecutive season he has faced a significant injury, having broken his right shoulder after just six starts last year.

With Watson’s career in Cleveland reaching another critical point, the team had signed him to a substantial $230 million contract in 2022, with him expected to earn $46 million per season over the next two years.

However, he has struggled to meet the expectations that come with such a hefty contract and is now faced with a serious injury that will necessitate an extensive recovery period.