Patriots quarterback Bailey Zappe left Friday’s preseason finale at Tennessee midway through the second quarter.

As the team’s No. 2 quarterback, Zappe’s exit seemed to indicate his preseason was over. Trace McSorley took the reins of the offense on the next series, and undrafted rookie Malik Cunningham waited for his turn. McSorley even took a knee on the following drive to run out the clock on the first half.

But then halftime came and went, and Zappe returned. He played most of the second half, finishing 8-of-15 for 57 yards. Why did he return?

“That was kind of, I think, the head man’s decision. I just do what I’m told,” Zappe told reporters in Tennessee. “Whenever they pull me out, they pull me out. Whenever they told me at halftime I was going back in, start the third quarter, I was ready to go back out.”

Over three preseason appearances, Zappe finished 30-of-51 for 253 yards, a touchdown and five sacks. In practice, he never threatened starting quarterback Mac Jones, who played in one preseason game. Zappe’s performance was largely inconsistent, as he often dealt with sacks and batted passes at the line of scrimmage.

He also played with a backup offensive line comprised of veteran cast-offs and late-round picks. The first of four sacks he took Friday was a result of backup left tackle Andrew Stueber allowing a rusher straight into the backfield. Zappe also lost one of his three fumbles.

“There’s always going to be things you could’ve done better, could’ve fixed. This was one of those games for me.”

Zappe is expected to make the team after Tuesday’s 53-man roster cuts. Cunningham’s future as a potential No. 3 quarterback/wide receiver is unclear.