FOXBORO — Sunday barely served as an appetizer for these clamoring to see how Malik Cunningham will look below heart within the Patriots’ offense.
Cunningham served as Mac Jones’ backup quarterback within the Patriots’ 21-17 loss to the Raiders in Week 6, however he performed simply six snaps with three coming at quarterback. He was sacked in his solely dropback and didn’t obtain any dashing makes an attempt.
Earlier this week, head coach Bill Belichick informed the media that it was too early to speak about Cunningham’s potential function Week 7 in opposition to the Bills, as a result of the workforce was nonetheless centered on the loss to the Raiders. The Patriots practiced Tuesday, in order that they’ve moved on at this level, however Belichick nonetheless wouldn’t discuss handle whether or not Cunningham could be the No. 2 once more this week, as an alternative selecting to maintain {that a} secret from the Bills.
“Yeah, we’ll work our way through the roster situations as we go through the week,” Belichick stated. “Not going to talk about how we’re going to play the game.”
The Patriots made Bailey Zappe inactive because the workforce’s emergency third quarterback in opposition to the Raiders. He may have solely entered Sunday’s recreation if Jones and Cunningham suffered accidents. And he would have wanted to be faraway from the sport if Jones or Cunningham have been medically cleared. Will Grier was inactive and didn’t costume for the sport.
Even after saying inactives, the Patriots have been nonetheless making an attempt to maintain their backup quarterback state of affairs shrouded in thriller. Cunningham stated after the sport that he warmed up within the halls of Allegiant Stadium, as a result of the workforce was making an attempt to maintain his function “low-key.” Cunningham didn’t take any reps at quarterback throughout full-team pregame warmups, lining up at broad receiver as an alternative.
Belichick was requested Wednesday if the workforce would really feel snug giving Cunningham, who additionally practiced at broad receiver and on particular groups final week, a full share of reps at QB in a recreation.
“I mean, look, he’s a young player,” Belichick stated. “So, he’s bettering. See the way it goes. …
“If he was the No. 2, that’s what it would be.”
The Patriots’ backup quarterback state of affairs has been a multitude for the reason that summer season. Zappe struggled in coaching camp and the preseason to the purpose of being waived throughout roster cuts. The Patriots made him accessible to all different 31 groups on waivers, nobody claimed him, and he returned initially to the apply squad earlier than signing again to the 53-man roster forward of the season opener.
The workforce has tried to usher in competitors for Zappe, first claiming Matt Corral off of waivers from the Panthers, however he left the workforce with out discover and wound up on the exempt checklist. That led the workforce to briefly signal Ian Book to their apply squad. The workforce minimize Book and waived Corral from the exempt checklist. The Patriots deliberate to convey Corral again onto their apply squad, however there was a change of plans and the second-year professional is now nonetheless a free agent.
That led the Patriots to signal quarterback Will Grier off of the Bengals’ apply squad forward of Week 3. He was the workforce’s emergency third QB for 3 weeks earlier than he was made utterly inactive on Sunday.
The Patriots introduced in Grier to beat out Zappe, however there aren’t sufficient apply reps to get him acclimated into the offense.
“There’s never enough reps for the quarterback,” Belichick acknowledged Wednesday. “If one quarterback takes all of the reps, that’s typically not sufficient for him. He may go longer. It’s simply, you might have the handle the remainder of the workforce. If you begin splitting it up into different gamers, then it’s not sufficient reps for them both.
“The quarterback’s the position that can — assuming the quarterback’s healthy — they could probably take more reps than any other player on the team. And productive reps. It’s just a question of how many the rest of the team can take. So, that’s the way it always is. I don’t think there’s any change.”
Belichick was requested if it was practical to know what Grier may supply primarily based on these limitations.
“Yeah, look, I don’t know,” Belichick stated. “We’ll do the best to evaluate all of the players we have. That’s all I can tell you.”
The 1-5 Patriots are usually not anticipated to beat the 4-2 Bills this week, so it looks as if a superb alternative to strive a artistic strategy on offense. That may not imply beginning Cunningham, however getting him snaps in an choice offense may at the very least catch the Bills off guard.
“Malik’s a good player,” Jones stated. “Definitely very athletic and can make plays. He’s been a great addition in the locker room too. Just enjoyed having conversations with him. He keeps it fun and all of that. Really enjoy him and feel like he’s done a good job.”
And primarily based on how Belichick has addressed Cunningham’s function, stunning the Bills appears to be a precedence for the Patriots.
Source: www.bostonherald.com