Undrafted rookie Malik Cunningham offered a jolt for the Patriots’ offense in his most in depth work of the preseason two weeks in the past. Top determination makers now should decide whether or not that was sufficient to maintain him on the 53-man roster or threat shedding him on waivers earlier than he lands on the observe squad.
The Patriots should trim their roster from 89 gamers right down to 53 by Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET.
Cunningham, a school quarterback, began the summer time at vast receiver earlier than taking increasingly more snaps at his pure place previous to Week 1 of the preseason. He scored the crew’s lone landing towards the Houston Texans in that sport whereas exhibiting some promise as a passer. The rookie solely performed vast receiver final week because the Patriots’ second preseason sport was suspended after cornerback Isaiah Bolden suffered a concussion. Cunningham didn’t full his two passing makes an attempt Friday night time within the Patriots’ preseason finale towards the Tennessee Titans. He rushed as soon as for five yards within the loss.
The determination whether or not to maintain or lower Cunningham is just not a simple one since he holds worth for the crew even when he doesn’t play a single snap this season. The Patriots have already used Cunningham at quarterback in observe because the crew prepares for the Philadelphia Eagles and cell quarterback Jalen Hurts in Week 1 of the common season. It appears unlikely that he would maintain a big function at quarterback or vast receiver on sport day.
“There’s a lot of stuff that I still need to work on, but I feel like I put enough good stuff on film to let the coaches handle, make that decision. It’s not my decision. I can only control what I can control. Just keep my head down and keep working.”
The 24-year-old rookie was focused 9 instances within the preseason and caught one move for a 1-yard loss. His conversion to vast receiver hasn’t been a very clean one. It in all probability doesn’t assist that he’s being pressured to play two offensive positions in observe with snaps at vast receiver and quarterback.
“I’m a football player,” Cunningham mentioned when requested what place he prefers. “Whatever they need me to do, I’ll do it.”
Cunningham’s contract with the Patriots broke crew information for an undrafted free agent with $200,000 in whole ensures. Most NFL gamers will not be claimed after being waived throughout cutdowns, however Cunningham could possibly be an exception for what he confirmed in restricted snaps as a cell quarterback this preseason. The Patriots clearly had some competitors for his providers since they gave him a $30,000 signing bonus.
Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe would be the crew’s high two quarterbacks. The crew appears to be leaning in the direction of holding six vast receivers in JuJu Smith-Schuster, DeVante Parker, Kendrick Bourne, Demario Douglas, Tyquan Thornton and Kayshon Boutte. Cunningham would function a 3rd quarterback/seventh vast receiver if stored. Neither function is a obligatory one for the crew.
The Patriots may use a participant like Cunningham to arrange for Hurts. But finally, they’ll want to find out if his abilities at both place are working utilizing a roster spot to develop. There was a thought that he’d must continue to grow after Week 1 of the preseason to make the roster. Instead, he peaked within the Patriots’ first preseason sport.
Source: www.bostonherald.com