The Lions are adding a fourth quarterback to their practice squad, sort of

The Lions get some extra knowledge on the Ravens ahead of Monday’s game

Mike Payton Detroit Lions Beat Writer
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Aug 10, 2023; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Malik Cunningham (16) during the second half against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports Eric Canha-Imagn Images

A few weeks ago, the Detroit Lions tried out wide receiver Malik Cunningham. They didn’t sign him at the time, but now the Lions are adding him to the practice squad per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Cunningham gives the Lions a dual threat on their practice squad

While Cunningham has spent the bulk of his career in the NFL as a receiver, he was a quarterback at Louisville, and then was a quarterback when he initially came into the NFL. The Patriots brought Cunningham in as an undrafted free agent quarterback in 2023, and there were insane people who thought that he had a shot to be their starting quarterback that year when the Mac Jones experiment didn’t work out there.

Cunningham played two preseason games as a QB there, but didn’t really throw the ball a whole lot. He was converted to a receiver by the end of the summer. He didn’t get a lot of targets as a receiver in the preseason and didn’t get a lot with the Ravens this summer either. Frankly, this may be the Lions’ signing him to get some competitive tips on the Ravens before their matchup on Monday night. He’s otherwise never really played in the NFL during the regular season aside from one game with the Patriots in 2023.

He’s an athlete for sure. It’ll be interesting to see if the Lions hold on to him past this week and what they plan to do with him position-wise.