Rookie quarterback/wide receiver Malik Cunningham out on a show last night in the fourth quarter of the Patriots 20-9 loss to the Houston Texans. 

Cunningham had been working mostly at receiver during rookie mini-camp, mini-camp and training camp but on Monday, he returned to his normal position and started taking reps at quarterback. He did the same thing during Tuesday’s practice. 

With the Patriots offense struggling to consistently move the ball, Cunningham was put in the game at quarterback late in last night’s game and promptly led the Patriots on a 10 play, 40 yard drive the culminated in a dazzling touchdown run in which he shook the defender trying to tackle out of his cleats. 

When asked if he knew he was going to play quarterback in the fourth quarter, Cunningham responded emphatically.

“Yes sir. We had talked about it during the week, Coach told me, so I knew I had to be ready at some point.”

Cunningham embraced the challenge and he wanted to provide his team with a spark once he entered the game.

“It felt good, I mean at times they were bringing a lot of pressure. They had a good defense, had a good scheme, so I just feel like my running ability gave us a little more options on offense to open it up so they didn’t know if we were going to pass or run. That was pretty fun.”

The question now is, how do the Patriots use Cunningham moving forward? It is a complicated decision. The Patriots could carry him as a third quarterback during the season and he could be active on game day. That would also mean he made the final 53 man roster.

If he is going to be in the final roster, the Patriots need to find a way to use his athleticism and arm. Sort of the same the Jets used Ray Lucas and Brad Smith back in the day and the way the Steelers used Antwan Randle-El. I do not see Cunningham being utilized the same way the Saints use Taysom Hill. Bill Belichick has never been a “Wildcat” guy but that was when he had Tom Brady. I think he would be more open minded now and he would consider using Cunningham more on offense.

We will find out over the course of the next two weeks just how much the Patriots are planning on using Cunningham offensively. I suspect we will see a lot more of Cunningham as the Patriots try to figure out a role for him on offense.