If we learned anything last season about the Patriots it’s that some adjustments needed to be made, and nobodies position was safe.

That goes for Mac Jones heading into this season.

The Patriots faced the Houston Texans last Thursday and lost, 20-9. But one of the upsides of the game was Malik Cunningham and his contribution as a quarterback. The former Louisville star went undrafted and surprised everyone with his late game efforts. With the game not mattering due to the preseason, he still broke off a couple tackles before landing in the end zone for a touchdown.

That play alone sparked an interest by Patriots fans because… well it’s simple… neither Jones nor Bailey Zappe can make a play like that. Right now Jones might have the most reps and is the favorite to start week 1, but don’t be surprised to see some shifts in this preseason.

If you’re a Patriots fan, you know that Bill Belichick is going to give the starting spot to whoever puts them in the best position to win on Sunday. So far, Mac Jones leads due to his knowledge of the playbook, his experience as a third-year player, and chemistry with guys in the locker room. But it’s hard to overlook what Cunningham can do.

At Louisville he finished with 120 total touchdowns (70 passing, 50 rushing). He can use his feet and escape pressure. If he can show in this preseason that he can zip the ball in tight spots and make smart decisions, week 1 will become interesting.