Patriots rookie Malik Cunningham makes playing QB look easy in preseason debut
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FOXBORO — Patriots rookie Malik Cunningham had a novel idea midway through the fourth quarter of the team’s preseason opener against the Houston Texans after being inserted at quarterback.
The Patriots should put some points 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 said after the Patriots’ 20-9 loss to the Texans on Thursday night.
Cunningham, listed as a quarterback but primarily serving as a wide receiver two weeks into training camp, scored the Patriots’ lone touchdown in the preseason loss, juking Texans linebacker Jake Hansen to score on a 9-yard scramble up the middle of the field. Cunningham was told to never let one man bring him down. He wasn’t going to let Hansen tackle him. He plowed through two other 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 training camp catching passes and playing special teams before taking significant reps at quarterback in the days proceeding Thursday’s game. Cunningham even played wide receiver Thursday night (and went untargeted) before going under center in the Patriots’ final 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 said. “The quarterbacks and receivers, all of those guys have been nothing but help to me. So, I appreciate them.”
Cunningham finished his sole drive going 3-of-4 for 19 yards as a passer and carrying the ball five times for 34 yards. The Patriots only managed a field goal earlier in the game after safety Jalen Mills flipped the field on the Texans with an interception.
“Did a nice job, showed some poise out there and some toughness,” head coach Bill Belichick said. “Did a nice job.”
Patriots players were impressed with Cunningham’s performance after the game in the locker room. He was a four-year starting quarterback at Louisville before switching to wide receiver as an undrafted free agent in the NFL. Now his position appears to be in limbo.
“I watched him in college when he was at Louisville, so we already knew what he could do,” wide receiver Tyquan Thornton said. “But it’s good to see him go out there and do it tonight.”
Cunningham said Belichick told him during the week that he’d get time at quarterback in Thursday’s preseason game. The rookie said he’ll continue to do whatever the team needs him to do, regardless of position.
Cunningham is fourth on the Patriots’ quarterback depth chart based on Thursday’s game, since he was playing behind Bailey Zappe and Trace McSorley. Starter Mac Jones sat out Thursday’s action with the rest of the Patriots’ established starters.
More performances like Thursday night’s showing could potentially convince the Patriots to keep working with Cunningham as a quarterback and wide receiver. He signed a rookie contract with the highest guarantees in team history for an undrafted free agent this spring. He could be hard to slip through waivers after flashing his playmaking skills against the Texans. And at least based on his touchdown run, he could be a valuable red-zone addition to the Patriots’ offensive arsenal.
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