Cody

Kessler

His release trims $935,000 off the team’s books. More importantly, it leaves only Jarrett Stidham and Brian Hoyer as New England’s options under center. With a sudden vacancy at that position, perhaps coach Bill Belichick will kick the tires on free agent Cam Newton.

It’s the second time Kessler’s re-joined the Patriots since the end of September. This move also fills the team’s roster, making a pending transaction necessary to clear the way for rookie wideout N’Keal Harry to be activated this week.

Kessler was signed when Tom Brady was missing some practice reps. He ended up lasting 20 days on the 53-man roster. The 2016 third-rounder is now 26.

Kessler spent the summer with the Eagles but was cut after Josh McCown came out of retirement and won the No. 2 gig. In New England, Kessler will likely slide in as Tom Brady’s direct backup, pushing rookie Jarrett Stidham to No. 3 after he came in last week and tossed a pick-six to the Jets. Stidham isn’t ready for the bright lights.

Kessler barely played this preseason, completing just 7-of-15 passes for 57 scoreless yards and no picks while taking two sacks and suffering a concussion. After his brain injury, the Eagles lured Josh McCown out of retirement, and McCown proceeded to light up the Ravens two weeks ago to win the backup job. Kessler will 100% get another shot elsewhere.

Kessler had been acting as the No. 2 quarterback before going down in last Thursday’s preseason game. With Josh McCown now entrenched as the No. 2, Kessler figures to be forced off the roster before Week 1 if Nate Sudfeld (wrist) gets cleared.

Kessler is the Eagles’ fill-in backup while Nate Sudfeld rehabs a wrist injury. Fifth-round rookie Clayton Thorson is now the team’s only healthy quarterback behind Carson Wentz. A signing will need to be made ahead of next weekend’s regular season dress rehearsal. Concussions can linger, but a normal recovery time would have Kessler healthy well in advance of the opener.

The deal has been agreed to, but won’t be official until Monday. Kessler took only a few days to resurface after being let go by Jacksonville last week. In Philadelphia, the 26-year-old will compete with Nate Sudfeld and fifth-round Clayton Thorson for backup reps behind starter Carson Wentz, who is still recovering from last year’s back injury. The 2016 third-rounder has made 12 career starts including four last season after the Jags benched Blake Bortles.

It was not a great situation, but Kessler looked overmatched in four starts last season, topping 160 passing yards once and finishing the year with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Still, he should land with another team as a backup candidate. Jacksonville’s backup job will likely come down to 2018 sixth-rounder Tanner Lee and 2019 sixth-rounder Gardner Minshew.

Kessler played in an understandable panic against a Dolphins defense that has struggled to rush the passer all year but suddenly looked ferocious against a Jaguars offensive line with 4-of-5 starters on I.R. Kessler finished 12-of-17 for 106 yards and five sacks absorbed, rushing once for a gain of two.