For a second straight week, the New England Patriots announced they are elevating rookie quarterback Malik Cunningham to the main roster, ahead of Thursday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Despite the Patriots not scoring a point against the Los Angeles Chargers last week, Cunningham remained on the bench behind Bailey Zappe, who started and played for the entire game. Could Thursday’s primetime game against the Steelers be different?
It’s certainly something to keep an eye on.
Zappe wasn’t terrible against the Chargers, but he also failed to generate the spark the team needed to move the ball. Granted, the team didn’t do him any favors. The offensive line play was atrocious, and receivers struggled to make plays.
That still doesn’t change the fact that Cunningham’s ability to scramble and make plays out of the pocket is a different element to his game that no other quarterback has on the team right now. That could prove beneficial against a Steelers defense that has shown vulnerabilities in stopping the run.
If the team struggles to move the ball for a second straight week, don’t be surprised if Cunningham gets an opportunity to shake things up.
