Insider updates if Patriots' Malik Cunningham could replace Mac Jones

New England Patriots undrafted rookie Malik Cunningham surprisingly replaced Bailey Zappe as the club's primary backup quarterback for the team's Week 6 loss at the Las Vegas Raiders and could record more than six offensive snaps in this coming Sunday's home game against the 4-2 Buffalo Bills. 

"I am told the coaches are discussing ways to work Cunningham into the game plan in a somewhat significant way, possibly as early as this week against Buffalo," ESPN's Dan Graziano reported on Wednesday. "The Patriots thought they put forth a better effort Sunday against the Raiders, but they still lost the game and are looking for a lot more from the quarterback position than what Mac Jones is giving them." 

Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien insisted Tuesday that "we haven’t lost any confidence in" Zappe after Andrew Callahan and Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald reported last week that "team sources" made it clear the club isn't keen on playing the 2022 fourth-round draft pick or fellow backup Will Grier. Graziano noted that "we're a ways away from" Cunningham possibly starting over Jones, but the ESPN personality also added that the 1-5 Patriots may have nothing "to lose at this point" by going with an unproven option. 

According to ESPN stats, Jones enters Week 7 ranked 30th among qualified players with a 36.8 adjusted QBR and a 74.4 passer rating on the season. Meanwhile, the Patriots are ranked 31st in scoring with just 12.0 points per game. 

"What Cunningham could give the Pats is a little bit of a different look at the position, mixing in some quarterback runs and moving the pocket to help diversify and expand the passing game," Graziano explained. 

Any hope regarding O’Brien helping Jones reclaim the form that made the signal-caller a Pro Bowl selection as a rookie in 2021 has essentially evaporated, and the 25-year-old largely looks like a lost cause as it pertains to at least his future in New England. Assuming it's true that head coach Bill Belichick doesn't want to turn to either Zappe or Grier, Belichick may have to give Cunningham some starts in either November or December if only to prevent others inside the locker room from mentally checking out before Week 18.