Similar to last week, the Patriots are elevating QB/WR Malik Cunningham to the active roster for tonight’s game. Along with Cunningham, the Patriots are promoting running back Kevin Harris.
Cunningham, 25, only has one elevation left before the Patriots have to sign him to the active roster if they want him to be available on game day. The 6’1, 198-pounder was signed to the Patriots as a undrafted rookie out of Louisville last May. Since then, the team has waived Cunningham twice but returned both times to the practice squad.
The last time Cunningham saw game action was in mid-October when he made his NFL debut against the Las Vegas Raiders. He played six offensive snaps during the game. However, the Louisville alum earned a practice squad elevation last Sunday when the team hosted the Chargers, but Cunningham failed to record a snap.
With Bailey Zappe in line to make his second straight start for the Patriots, Cunningham isn’t expected to impact tonight’s contest significantly. However, it’s possible the Patriots have a small package designed for the quarterback, especially in the red zone, where he’s excelled in the past.
Against the Texans in the Patriot’s first preseason game, the rookie quarterback went 3-for-4 for 19 yards and almost recorded a 40+ yard touchdown to Tre Nixon, which was dropped in the endzone. Cunningham also totaled five carries for 34 yards, including a nine-yard touchdown run.
The Patriots also elevated second-year running back Kevin Harris. It marks Harris first elevation of the season. With Rhamondre Stevenson suffering an ankle injury last Sunday, Harris was promoted to add depth to a shallow running back room. Stevenson is projected to miss multiple weeks with his injury, so seeing a lot of Kevin Harris as the season concludes won’t be shocking.
Harris has appeared in five games in his NFL career, his best game coming against the Cardinals last season, where he ran for 52 yards, including a 14-yard touchdown run.
Harris entered the NFL in 2022 with the Patriots drafted the 5’10, 225-pounder in the fourth round. The South Carolina alum has been on the practice squad since August after clearing waivers at the league’s deadline.
Likewise, the Patriots will lean on backup Ezekiel Elliott. The veteran is nursing a thigh injury but will carry the workload against the Steelers. The former Pro-Bowler registered a season-high 92 scrimmage yards on 21 touches against the Chargers.
Earlier in the week, the Patriots ruled out receivers Demario Douglas and Kayshon Boutte, along with running back Rhamondre Stevenson and cornerback Shaun Wade.
The team listed JuJu Smith-Schuster, DeVante Parker, Trent Brown, and Christian Barmore as questionable.
Kickoff is set for 8:15 p.m. on Amazon Prime.
My name is Ben Belford-Peltzman and I am the creator and writer of The Patriots Beat. I am a 17-year kid who is an optimistic pessimist about the City of Champions. I started The Patriots Beat in August of 2022 and never expected to grow so much but here we are. Feel free to email Thepatriotsbeat@gmail.com with any inquires.
