Patriots quarterback Malik Cunningham runs with the ball as Houston defensive end Adedayo Odeleye reaches for him during a preseason game on Aug. 10. Steven Senne/Associated Press
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — It would be difficult for the Patriots to be worse on offense, so entering desperation mode at just the one-third mark of the season, Bill O’Brien and the offense might as well pull out all of the stops Week 6 against the Raiders.
Yes, that might include elevating preseason hero Malik Cunningham, a quarterback/wide receiver-hybrid, from the practice squad and seeing if he can provide a spark on offense.
We’ll find out Saturday at 4 p.m. if the Patriots actually give Cunningham a chance in the regular season. Patriots Coach Bill Belichick announced Wednesday that the team isn’t making a change at quarterback, and Mac Jones will continue to start, but Belichick said Friday morning that Cunningham, who began his transition to wide receiver in the spring, is “trending towards” a game-day role.
“Anybody who keeps on improving is going to eventually probably get an opportunity to play,” Belichick said.
Cunningham could be useful in certain offensive situations. The Patriots spent valuable time this summer with Cunningham running the option behind the team’s starting offensive line. The team was not only preparing for Eagles QB Jalen Hurts, but they also wanted to see if Cunningham could run the offense effectively enough to serve as the team’s third quarterback with Trace McSorley struggling at the time, a source said.
Cunningham, despite being a five-year starter as a quarterback at Louisville, isn’t much of a passing threat. But his playing speed was apparent in limited snaps this preseason. He carried the ball five times for 39 yards with a touchdown while completing 3 of 6 passes for 19 yards.
His playmaking ability could come in handy in short-yardage situations or even in the goal line (if the Patriots ever get there again).
“Yeah, for sure,” Cunningham told the Boston Herald when asked if he believed he could make an impact if he did get on the field before pivoting the conversation. “I mean, the team we have (is) very good on both sides of the ball. We just have to come together and find a way to win, for sure.”
Cunningham knows he might need to wait before getting regular-season action, however.
“That stuff just comes with time and patience,” Cunningham said. “Whenever your name is called, just gotta be ready.”
The 6-foot-1, 198-pound skill player could also potentially serve as wide receiver depth with Demario Douglas and JuJu Smith-Schuster still in concussion protocol. The team has Kendrick Bourne, DeVante Parker and Kayshon Boutte healthy on their 53-man roster and Tyquan Thornton eligible to be activated off injured reserve. Jalen Reagor and T.J. Luter fill out the practice squad.
Belichick has been impressed with Cunningham’s development not only at receiver but also on special teams, where the ex-college QB is using his change-of-direction skills at gunner.
“Yeah, Malik’s really worked hard and made a lot of improvement,” Belichick said. “Never really played in the kicking game at Louisville. So, he’s started to show up there. Never played receiver. That didn’t look very good either in the spring, but he’s really improved there. He can catch the ball but just the route running and finding zones and things like that. But it’s come pretty naturally to him. And then the plays we’ve given him at quarterback, he’s competent there.
“So, he’s a smart kid, he works hard, and the opportunities he’s had, he’s actually looked – he’s shown a lot of improvement doing them. It’s a little too early for an induction ceremony here, but there’s definitely a lot of improvement.”
New England offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien talks with quarterback Malik Cunningham during a preseason game against the Houston Texans. Greg M. Cooper/Associated Press
Offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien called Cunningham “one of the most improved practice squad players” on the Patriots.
“Malik works very hard,” O’Brien said this week. “He does a good job on the practice squad, plays a lot of receiver. He played some quarterback last week with mimicking (New Orleans Saints QB/tight end) Taysom Hill. But he does a really good job, and he continues to improve.”
The undrafted rookie said “conditioning” was the hardest part of his transition from quarterback to wide receiver. He simply wasn’t used to running at a full sprint on every offensive play.
He’s getting help from veteran receivers on a regular basis, as well, as he continues to grow into the new role.
“It’s definitely different, but I’m getting more comfortable with it,” Cunningham said. “The older guys are definitely helping me and just watching those guys go out there and do it. And then sometimes the older guys meet with the rookies. So we just watch film and just talk through it, see it from their perspective and just me being a quarterback and just talking it out and trying to figure things out to get better each and every day.”
The Patriots have the NFL’s worst offense based on expected points added (EPA) per play. They’re dead last in EPA per rush and EPA per dropback. And the offense went from very, very bad against the Cowboys in Week 4 to worse in Week 5 against the Saints.
They’ve been unwilling to turn the reins over to Bailey Zappe or Will Grier at quarterback. But why not remove Jones in certain situations to give Cunningham a look.
Some option looks with Cunningham could at least catch the Raiders off guard.
INJURY REPORT: The Patriots head into Las Vegas a bit banged up with 10 players listed as “questionable” for Sunday’s game with the Raiders.
Offensive lineman Riley Reiff, who returned to action last week, one of seven players ruled out. He was limited with a knee problem all week. Also from the offensive line, both Trent Brown (chest) and Michael Onwenu (ankle) are listed as questionable.
The Patriots also have two cornerbacks (Jonathan Jones, Shaun Wade), three defensive lineman (Christian Barmore, Davon Godchaux, Trey Flowers) one safety (Kyle Dugger), one linebacker (Josh Uche) and one wide receiver (Tyquan Thornton) with questionable designations. With JuJu Smith-Schuster and Demario Douglas out with concussions, the Patriots will need help at receiver.
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