The New England Patriots are making a slight change on their quarterback depth chart.
Per ESPN’s Mike Reiss, the Pats “have informed” Brian Hoyer that they plan to release him prior to Mar. 15, when the free agent market opens. This will leave the Patriots with Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe on their depth chart, with Reiss adding they’ll “likely” bring in another QB.
The well-traveled Hoyer has spent three different stints in New England. He was there from 2009 to 2011 before joining the Arizona Cardinals as a backup in 2012. He started 16 games for the Cleveland Browns from 2013 to 2014 and spent 2015 as the Houston Texans’ main starting quarterback, helping them to the AFC South division crown.
Hoyer also had brief stops with the Chicago Bears and San Francisco 49ers before returning to the Patriots in 2017 following the Jimmy Garoppolo trade. Hoyer won a Super Bowl 53 ring as Tom Brady’s backup in the 2018 season.
Hoyer spent the 2019 season with the Indianapolis Colts, serving as a backup to Jacoby Brissett in the wake of Andrew Luck’s retirement. Hoyer returned to the Patriots in 2020, and he wound up spending each of the next three years there.
The 37-year-old Hoyer had to start the Patriots’ Week 4 road game against the Green Bay Packers due to an injury Mac Jones. Hoyer left that game concussed, and Zappe had to finish the game.
Hoyer is 16-24 in his career as a starter, with 10,668 career passing yards and 53 touchdowns against 35 interceptions.
