![](https://patriotswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/71/2023/08/1606534400-e1692035020510.jpg?w=1000&h=600&crop=1)
A major shift at the quarterback position is the biggest storyline ahead of the New England Patriots’ Week 13 showdown with the Los Angeles Chargers.
On Saturday, the Patriots announced they were elevating backup quarterback Malik Cunningham to the active roster, a day after Bailey Zappe was reported as the expected starter against the Chargers.
It’s a move that creates even more questions, particularly when it relates to Mac Jones, who has been benched in back-to-back weeks. Will he be viewed as the No. 3 option behind Zappe and Cunningham on Sunday?
The Patriots could also look to get Cunningham involved in the receiving game with rookie wide receivers Demario Douglas and Kayshon Boutte both ruled out for the game.
Here’s the official roster for New England against the Chargers:
#1: WR DeVante Parker
![](https://patriotswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/71/2023/05/USATSI_19637175.jpg)
#2: DB Jalen Mills
![](https://patriotswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/71/2023/09/1444998028.jpg)
#3: LB Mack Wilson Sr.
![](https://patriotswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/71/2023/09/USATSI_21407998_168386657_lowres.jpg)
#4: QB Bailey Zappe
![](https://patriotswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/71/2023/11/USATSI_21978391_168403262_lowres.jpg)
#5: DB Jabrill Peppers
![](https://patriotswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/71/2023/11/1815062408.jpg)
#7: WR JuJu Smith-Schuster
![](https://patriotswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/71/2023/10/USATSI_21408014_168386657_lowres.jpg)
#8: LB Ja'Whaun Bentley
![](https://patriotswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/71/2023/11/USATSI_21827097_168403262_lowres.jpg)
#10: QB Mac Jones
![](https://patriotswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/71/2023/11/USATSI_21976893_168403262_lowres.jpg)
#11: WR Tyquan Thornton
![](https://patriotswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/71/2023/12/1815157013.jpg)
#14: WR Ty Montgomery II
![](https://patriotswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/71/2023/09/USATSI_21391980_168386657_lowres.jpg)
#15: RB Ezekiel Elliott
![](https://patriotswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/71/2023/12/1815105961.jpg)
#16: QB Malik Cunningham
![](https://patriotswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/71/2023/10/1737652287-e1697639359559.jpg)
#17: P Bryce Baringer
![](https://patriotswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/71/2023/11/1776747595.jpg)
#18: WR Matthew Slater
![](https://patriotswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/71/2023/02/USATSI_19718148_168386657_lowres.jpg)
#21: DB Adrian Phillips
![](https://patriotswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/71/2023/09/USATSI_21408010_168386657_lowres.jpg)
#22: DB Cody Davis
![](https://patriotswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/71/2022/11/USATSI_17089815_168386657_lowres.jpg)
#23: DB Kyle Dugger
![](https://patriotswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/71/2023/01/1453656651.jpg)
#26: CB Shaun Wade
![](https://patriotswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/71/2023/08/USATSI_19718143.jpg)
#27: DB Myles Bryant
![](https://patriotswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/71/2023/11/USATSI_21883139_168403262_lowres.jpg)
#28: DB Alex Austin
![](https://patriotswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/71/2023/11/USATSI_21216894_168403262_lowres.jpg)
#29: DB J.C. Jackson
![](https://patriotswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/71/2023/12/1815257600.jpg)
#30: LB Marte Mapu
![](https://patriotswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/71/2023/12/1808462289.jpg)
#31: DB Jonathan Jones
![](https://patriotswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/71/2023/03/1416008926.jpg)
#33: LB Anfernee Jennings
![](https://patriotswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/71/2023/10/1702928533.jpg)
#37: K Chad Ryland
![](https://patriotswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/71/2023/11/USATSI_21884352_168403262_lowres.jpg)
#38: RB Rhamondre Stevenson
![](https://patriotswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/71/2023/11/1815158494-1.jpg)
#39: RB JaMycal Hasty
![](https://patriotswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/71/2023/11/0910c3388d624c54a3cc7bfe63ea8b0e.jpg)
#41: DB Brenden Schooler
![](https://patriotswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/71/2023/09/1446127559.jpg)
#45: LB Chris Board
![](https://patriotswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/71/2023/10/USATSI_21408042_168386657_lowres.jpg)
#48: LB Jahlani Tavai
![](https://patriotswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/71/2023/12/1815259686.jpg)
#49: LS Joe Cardona
![](https://patriotswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/71/2023/03/USATSI_18891577_168386657_lowres.jpg)
#55: LB Josh Uche
![](https://patriotswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/71/2023/10/USATSI_21656400_168386657_lowres.jpg)
#59: OT Vederian Lowe
![](https://patriotswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/71/2023/10/USATSI_21548695_168386657_lowres.jpg)
#60: C David Andrews
![](https://patriotswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/71/2022/09/USATSI_18922363.jpg)
#62: OL Sidy Sow
![](https://patriotswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/71/2023/09/USATSI_21407905_168386657_lowres.jpg)
#67: C Jake Andrews
![](https://patriotswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/71/2023/08/USATSI_21121851.jpg)
#68: OL Atonio Mafi
![](https://patriotswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/71/2023/09/USATSI_21231281_168386657_lowres.jpg)
#69: OL Cole Strange
![](https://patriotswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/71/2022/11/1416031561.jpg)
#70: DL Jeremiah Pharms Jr.
![](https://patriotswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/71/2023/08/USATSI_21183178_168386657_lowres.jpg)
#71: OL Mike Onwenu
![](https://patriotswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/71/2023/11/1778568242.jpg)
#75: OL Conor McDermott
![](https://patriotswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/71/2023/11/1815067753.jpg)
#77: OL Trent Brown
![](https://patriotswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/71/2023/10/USATSI_21408045_168386657_lowres.jpg)
#80: WR Kayshon Boutte
![](https://patriotswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/71/2023/12/USATSI_21982599_168403262_lowres.jpg)
#81: WR Demario Douglas
![](https://patriotswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/71/2023/11/1754728173.jpg)
#83: WR Jalen Reagor
![](https://patriotswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/71/2023/11/USATSI_21827487_168403262_lowres.jpg)
#85: TE Hunter Henry
![](https://patriotswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/71/2023/10/1724437189.jpg)
#86: TE Pharaoh Brown
![](https://patriotswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/71/2023/10/1702925993.jpg)
#88: TE Mike Gesicki
![](https://patriotswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/71/2023/10/USATSI_21658784_168386657_lowres.jpg)
#90: DL Christian Barmore
![](https://patriotswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/71/2023/11/USATSI_21977312_168403262_lowres.jpg)
#91: DL Deatrich Wise Jr.
![](https://patriotswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/71/2023/10/1712273477.jpg)
#92: DL Davon Godchaux
![](https://patriotswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/71/2022/07/USATSI_17329966-e1659026600878.jpg)
#93: DL Lawrence Guy Sr.
![](https://patriotswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/71/2022/12/1349465739.jpg)
#96: DL Sam Roberts
![](https://patriotswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/71/2023/10/1415227390.jpg)
#99: DE Keion White
![](https://patriotswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/71/2023/09/USATSI_21163727_168386657_lowres.jpg)