Tuesday introduced much more query marks to the quarterback room in Foxborough.
Malik Cunningham, who the New England Patriots handed a three-year deal to simply 10 days in the past, was waived from the 53-man roster. New England additionally launched defensive finish Trey Flowers, who had been designated to return from injured reserve.
Cunningham, a dual-threat playmaker throughout his days starring at Louisville, served because the No. 2 quarterback behind Mac Jones in New England’s Week 6 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders. In the sport, Cunningham logged six snaps, lining up at quarterback twice and receiver for the 4 different performs.
After the competition, Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien lauded Cunningham’s versatility, saying the undrafted rookie (*10*)
Despite the reward, Cunningham was made a wholesome scratch in New England’s Week 7 win over the Buffalo Bills. Musical chairs continued behind Jones, as Bailey Zappe reprised his position because the No. 2 quarterback whereas Will Grier served because the No. 3 emergency possibility.
While Cunningham is Louisville’s fourth all-time main passer, probabilities of him unseating Jones had been slim to none, which paints a telling image of New England’s shortcoming on offense.
Averaging the second-fewest factors within the NFL (14.4), the Patriots elevated Cunningham to the energetic roster not to push Jones however to function a gadget participant — in different phrases, a stopgap resolution for extra substantial points.
No Patriots working again averages greater than 3.7 YPC this season, whereas Kendrick Bourne is the lone broad receiver on the roster to catch a landing move. Jones’ play has been spotty at greatest, quarterbacking the Twelfth-worst move offense (208.9) in soccer. Nevertheless, it is troublesome to gauge the previous first-round choose’s viability as a long-term resolution underneath heart when his offense is scarce on playmakers.
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