New England Patriots make first impression clear after signing new quarterback

05 September 2023 , 20:59

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Matt Corral was signed by the New England Patriots after being released by the Carolina Panthers (Image: Rich Schultz/Getty Images)

New England Patriots quarterback Matt Corral is impressing coaches in his early days with the franchise.

The Patriots were busy making changes to their QB room before last week’s deadline to submit the 53-man roster for the 2023 NFL regular season. Mac Jones is the starting quarterback in Foxborough, but there has been a great deal of change in the reserves.

Bailey Zappe was initially placed on waivers by the Patriots last week, meaning he could have been signed by another team. Shortly after, though, the second-year quarterback was picked up by the Patriots and signed to their practice squad.

For Corral, he was released by the Carolina Panthers last week as they made changes ahead of naming their 53-man roster. The 24-year-old was soon signed by the Patriots, and the expectation now is that he will serve as the back-up to Jones this season.

Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien has been speaking about how Corral has been settling into his new surroundings since his move from the Panthers. O’Brien has been left impressed by what he has seen from the second-year QB, who was the 94th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.

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“It started last weekend when he got here,” O’Brien said about Corral, via . “And it takes a lot of work between myself, [assistant QBs coach] Evan Rothstein, and then, obviously, Matt himself. Matt has been here morning, noon, and night and he’s doing a good job of learning. And, we just need to keep progressing him.

“It’s hard — you can’t throw everything at him at once because that’s a lot of information. So, we try to do a good job of giving him the things that are important for him right now. It’s a team effort and he’s done a good job of just coming in here and trying to learn and soak it up.”

Corral will have to contend with being in reserve for the Patriots in his first season with the franchise. Jones is the starting quarterback and is about to enter the third year of his rookie deal that he signed after being drafted back in 2021.

Week 1 of the new NFL season begins for the Patriots at home to kast year’s Super Bowl runners up the Philadelphia Eagles. Jones is expected to be starting that game, with NFL legend Tom Brady also expected to be welcomed in his first year since retiring from the sport.

Mark Wakefield