FOXBORO — Patriots rookie Malik Cunningham had a novel concept halfway via the fourth quarter of the staff’s preseason opener in opposition to the Houston Texans after being inserted at quarterback.
The Patriots ought to put some factors on the board.
“We had no touchdowns so I told the O-line, the whole group that we were going to go down to score and that’s what we did,” Cunningham mentioned after the Patriots’ 20-9 loss to the Texans on Thursday evening.
Cunningham, listed as a quarterback however primarily serving as a large receiver two weeks into coaching camp, scored the Patriots’ lone landing within the preseason loss, juking Texans linebacker Jake Hansen to attain on a 9-yard scramble up the center of the sphere. Cunningham was advised to by no means let one man carry him down. He wasn’t going to let Hansen sort out him. He plowed via two different Texans defenders for good measure.
.@MalikMalikc10 breaking ankles.
📺: @wbzsports pic.twitter.com/kIMDON1Pe8
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) August 11, 2023
The Louisville product spent most of coaching camp catching passes and enjoying particular groups earlier than taking important reps at quarterback within the days continuing Thursday’s recreation. Cunningham even performed vast receiver Thursday evening (and went untargeted) earlier than going beneath middle within the Patriots’ ultimate drive.
“Is it difficult (playing two positions)? Nah, I feel like I’m a very clever, smart kid, and the coaches, they’ve been doing a good job with me explaining and breaking it down and helping me learn,” Cunningham mentioned. “The quarterbacks and receivers, all of those guys have been nothing but help to me. So, I appreciate them.”
Cunningham completed his sole drive going 3-of-4 for 19 yards as a passer and carrying the ball 5 instances for 34 yards. The Patriots solely managed a subject purpose earlier within the recreation after security Jalen Mills flipped the sphere on the Texans with an interception.
“Did a nice job, showed some poise out there and some toughness,” head coach Bill Belichick mentioned. “Did a nice job.”
Patriots gamers have been impressed with Cunningham’s efficiency after the sport within the locker room. He was a four-year beginning quarterback at Louisville earlier than switching to vast receiver as an undrafted free agent within the NFL. Now his place seems to be in limbo.
“I watched him in college when he was at Louisville, so we already knew what he could do,” vast receiver Tyquan Thornton mentioned. “But it’s good to see him go out there and do it tonight.”
Cunningham mentioned Belichick advised him in the course of the week that he’d get time at quarterback in Thursday’s preseason recreation. The rookie mentioned he’ll proceed to do regardless of the staff wants him to do, no matter place.
Cunningham is fourth on the Patriots’ quarterback depth chart based mostly on Thursday’s recreation, since he was enjoying behind Bailey Zappe and Trace McSorley. Starter Mac Jones sat out Thursday’s motion with the remainder of the Patriots’ established starters.
More performances like Thursday evening’s exhibiting may probably persuade the Patriots to maintain working with Cunningham as a quarterback and vast receiver. He signed a rookie contract with the very best ensures in staff historical past for an undrafted free agent this spring. He might be laborious to slide via waivers after flashing his playmaking expertise in opposition to the Texans. And at the very least based mostly on his landing run, he might be a priceless red-zone addition to the Patriots’ offensive arsenal.
Source: www.bostonherald.com