Long-term practice squad signing highlights series of Patriots’ Saturday roster moves
The New England Patriots’ roster will look a bit different this Sunday when they take on the Las Vegas Raiders. Ahead of the game on Saturday, the team made six roster moves.
Highlighting those six moves is the signing of practice squad quarterback/wide receiver Malik Cunningham to the active roster. The move was first reported by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
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Not only was Cunningham signed to the active roster, the Patriots are giving him a three-year contract, according to Rapoport. He’s now signed through the 2025 season, and would be a restricted free agent in the spring of 2026.
Cunningham, a college quarterback at Louisville, signed with the Patriots this spring as a UDFA. Starting in the spring, Cunningham has mostly worked on converting to wide receiver. At the same time, he has seen some brief work at quarterback, highlighted by a drive in the preseason opener that resulted in a rushing touchdown. On that drive, Cunningham ran mainly option concepts to work the Patriots’ offense down the field.
Earlier this week, Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien called Cunningham “the most improved player on the practice squad” for the Patriots this year. On Friday, Bill Belichick was highly complimentary of him as well.
“Malik’s really worked hard and made a lot of improvement. He never really played in the kicking game at Louisville, so he’s started to show up there, never played receiver – didn’t look very good either, in the spring, but he’s really improved there,” Belichick shared. “He can catch the ball, but just route running and finding zones and things like that. But, it’s come pretty naturally to him. He plays a good amount of quarterback. He’s competent there. He’s a smart kid, works hard, and the opportunities he’s had, he’s shown a lot of improvement. It’s a little too early for an induction ceremony here, but definitely a lot of improvement.”
Cunningham isn’t the only skill position player the Patriots added to their roster on Saturday. The team also activated wide receiver Tyquan Thornton from IR. Thornton had been out since suffering a shoulder injury during joint practices with the Packers in August, and returned to practice this week.
The Patriots will need the extra depth at the skill positions with wide receivers JuJu Smith-Schuster and Demario Douglas both ruled out for the game with concussions. In addition to adding Cunningham and Thornton, the Patriots also elevated wide receiver Jalen Reagor from the practice squad. It’s Reagor’s second elevation this year.
Along with Reagor, defensive tackle Jeremiah Pharms was elevated from the practice squad as well. This is Pharms’ third elevation of the year, the limit for each player in a season.
In order to open up spots on the roster for Cunningham and Thornton, the Patriots placed two players on IR in linebacker Matthew Judon and offensive tackle Tyrone Wheatley Jr. Judon was injured Week 4 against Dallas, and is expected to miss multiple months after undergoing elbow surgery.
Wheatley, who was acquired by the Patriots in a post-training camp trade with the Cleveland Browns for running back Pierre Strong, was added to the injury report on Friday with a knee injury. He hasn’t played a snap for the Patriots yet this season, and was a healthy scratch each of the last three games.
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Time to have fun? Patriots vs. Raiders What To Watch For
Maxx protection
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 09: Maxx Crosby #98 of the Las Vegas Raiders reacts during the fourth quarter against the Green Bay Packers at Allegiant Stadium on October 09, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Candice Ward/Getty Images)
The Patriots have had their issues on offense all around this year, but no spot has been more of a problem than right tackle. Vederian Lowe has taken over for Calvin Anderson. Lowe has the third-lowest pass block win rate among qualified tackles in the NFL, while Anderson has the second lowest. Change doesn’t seem to be imminent either, with Riley Reiff still limited coming off of IR and playing guard when he does get on the field.
This week, that right tackle spot will be tasked with slowing down Raiders pass rusher Maxx Crosby. Unlike most of the league’s top pass rushers, that line up on the blindside of the quarterback (opposite the left tackle), Crosby rushes from the right side of the offensive formation.
From that spot, Crosby, who checks in at 6-foot-5, 255 pounds, has been as effective as any rusher in the league this year. He has five sacks in five games, and his 27 hurries lead the league. Crosby can also be a problem for teams trying to run the ball – PFF has him as the seventh-highest graded run defender among all front-seven players in the NFL.
How will the Patriots’ handle their opponents biggest strength going up against their biggest weakness. Help, help, and more help. Look for the Patriots to slide protection to the right side. With that though comes more urgency for Trent Brown and whoever starts at left guard (Cole Strange if he’s healthy, or rookie Atonio Mafi) to hold up one-on-one.
Another mechanic the Patriots can use is keeping an extra blocker and or blockers in on pass plays. In that sense this could be a big game for both running back Ezekiel Elliott and tight end Pharaoh Brown, who are the two best pass blocking skill position players the Patriots have. At 6-foot-6, 258 pounds, Brown could also help the team get a push in the run game, either at tight end or fullback as we’ve seen him do at times this season.
The biggest thing the Patriots can do to try and minimize Crosby’s impact though is avoid falling in an early deficit. As long as the possibilities of the run and pass are both available, Crosby will have to be disciplined in his rush. If the Patriots are in a spot where they have to be throwing on every down, Crosby can pin his ears back and wreak havoc.
Who steps up at wide receiver?
Aug 10, 2023; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots wide receiver Tyquan Thornton (11) during the first half against the Houston Texans at Gillette Stadium. Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports
Both JuJu Smith-Schuster and Demario Douglas have missed Wednesday and Thursday’s practices with concussions. Less than a week removed from suffering those concussions Sunday against the Saints, that suggests they likely won’t play this week against the Raiders.
Losing both would take away the third- and fourth-most involved receivers in the Patriots’ offense, with Smith-Schuster having played 57.6 percent of the team’s offensive snaps and Douglas having played 24.2 percent. Where will those snaps go if both are out?
One clear option is for the Patriots to play more 12 or even 13 personnel, keeping extra tight ends on the field. As mentioned above, beyond running routes this could help bolster the offensive line,.
Another option is an increased role for rookie Kayshon Boutte. Boutte played 55 snaps in the Patriots’ season opener against the Eagles but didn’t record a catch on four targets, he’s been a healthy scratch since.
Then there’s Tyquan Thornton, who was designated to return from IR this week. Thornton, who missed the second half of training camp and started the season on IR due to a shoulder injury, could provide the speed the offense losses missing Douglas, and can line up in the slot where Smith-Schuster has most of the season. Look for him to handle the most of the vacated snaps this week.
The Patriots drafted Thornton 50th overall last year and are still looking for production to match that draft pick. He should have plenty of chances to show if he’s made a Year 2 jump this Sunday.
Jonathan Jones vs. Jakobi Meyers
DENVER, COLORADO – SEPTEMBER 10: Damarri Mathis #27 of the Denver Broncos tackles Jakobi Meyers #16 of the Las Vegas Raiders during the second quarter at Empower Field At Mile High on September 10, 2023 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)
This matchup should be a fun one. Two of the best UDFAs of the Bill Belichick era, cornerback Jonathan Jones will likely be covering wide receiver Jakobi Meyers for most of Sunday’s game.
Not only do both players know each other well from going head-to-head in practice for four years, but their skill sets match up as well. Meyers has been one of the Raiders most productive receivers this year and Jones is the Patriots top healthy cornerback, so this will be a key one-on-one.
There’s also the element of this being a ‘revenge game’ for Meyers. It would make sense for him to be extra motivated for this one. Look for Josh McDaniels to give him a chance to make plays early in the game (don’t rule out Meyers throwing a pass at some point).
