Scout Team Silliness: Patriots Using Undrafted QB to Play Eagles' Jalen Hurts

New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick admits it's a "stretch" to compare undrafted free agent Malik Cunningham to Philadelphia Eagles' MVP candidate Jalen Hurts ahead of Sunday's showdown.

There is certainly mutual respect between the New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles. And, in particular, between Pats coach Bill Belichick and Philly MVP candidate Jalen Hurts.

But, hey, you gotta play the hand you're dealt, right? To that end, the Patriots this week are attempting to mimic Hurts' dual-threat prowess with an undrafted quarterback running the scout team ahead of Sunday afternoon's season opener in Foxboro.

Malik Cunningham was no slouch in college at Louisville, throwing for 10,000 yards and 70 touchdowns and adding 3,000 yards and 50s scores with his legs. But ...

"I think it'd be a stretch to compare Malik Cunningham to Jalen Hurts now," Belichick said. "I mean, you're talking about a guy who's second in MVP voting last year."

While one of the most creative and accomplished defensive coaches in the history of pro football will attempt to design ways to hold Hurts in check at Gillette Stadium, Cunningham likely won't be in uniform. He was cut last week, but then signed back to New England's practice squad and is fourth on the quarterback depth chart behind Mac Jones, Bailey Zapppe and newly signed Matt Corral.

New England using a player like Cunningham to emulate Hurts isn't unique, of course. He is big and fast and displayed impressive wiggle in scoring on a touchdown run in the Pats' preseason opener. Alas, he's no Hurts. Not even close.

"Athletically there's some similarities," Belichick said. "But arguably you're talking about one of the best players in the league in Hurts. Nobody has anybody that can be him, and if they do that guy's probably not playing on the scout team. We don't have anybody like Hurts, and probably neither does anybody else."

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