In the most shocking move of the season to date, the Baltimore Ravens have signed former Louisville quarterback and Lamar Jackson college teammate Malik Cunningham off the New England Patriots practice squad.
Adam Schefter of ESPN broke the news on Tuesday, Dec. 12, quoting Cunningham sharing some farewell words with the free world.
A Louisville reunion in Baltimore: the Ravens are signing QB Malik Cunningham off the Patriots’ practice squad and on to their roster, Cunningham told ESPN today. Cunningham now will finish the season in Baltimore and go to the playoffs.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 12, 2023
Cunningham and Lamar Jackson were… pic.twitter.com/9Tj3IezKr6
The 25-year-old quarterback, who played five seasons in college, was a teammate of Lamar in the 2017 season and completed his career with a stat line of 9,660 yards, 70 touchdowns, and 29 interceptions during his NCAA days.
“I wanted to thank Mr Kraft and Coach Belichick for giving me opportunity to play with the Patriots," Cunningham wrote in his statement. "I learned a lot from them. I want to be a coach one day, so I would take notes from coach Belichick because he’s one of the greatest of all time. I had great teammates in New England and built relationships that will last a lifetime. But I just feel like this is a good opportunity for me and I’m excited to be a Baltimore Raven.”
Malik Cunningham to ESPN: “I wanted to thank Mr Kraft and Coach Belichick for giving me opportunity to play with the Patriots. I learned a lot from them. I want to be a coach one day, so I would take notes from coach Belichick because he’s one of the greatest of all time. I had… https://t.co/K4xaiJDwo5
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 12, 2023
Cunningham joined the Patriots as an undrafted free agent out of Louisville following the 2023 NFL Draft when nobody selected him. Cunningham didn't make the initial 53-man roster of the Patriots at the end of August but he was later signed to the practice squad of the franchise.
In a bizarre development, the Patriots then elevated Cunningham to their active roster ahead of Week 6, signed him to a three-year contract, allowed him to play a meager six snaps then, and waived him later that week in a shocking move.
For some reason, somehow, someway, both parties reunited after that and Cunningham was close to playing in the last couple of weeks but never again graced the field after that Week 6 cameo. He's now gone from New England.
The Ravens are seemingly looking to add depth to their roster by signing Cunningham, who has played both quarterback and wide receiver throughout his football career, to the practice squad ahead of Week 15.
It's unknown at this point if any quarterback currently rostered by Baltimore has suffered any injury.