Every team in the NFL wants an edge when trying to defend Lamar Jackson, and the Detroit Lions think they’ve found it ahead of Monday Night Football in Week 3, thanks to a former Baltimore Ravens wide receiver who knows the franchise quarterback and two-time league MVP better than most.
The Lions have been using Malik Cunningham to simulate Jackson in practice, according to Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic. He explained how “Cunningham, a converted receiver who played quarterback at Louisville, is extremely close with Jackson and obviously knows plenty about Baltimore’s offensive and defensive operations from being with the team for parts of the previous two seasons.”
It makes sense for the Lions to turn to Cunningham. The latter was a running and passing sensation in college, before entering the pros as a undrafted free agent in 2023 expected to play both wideout and signal-caller.
That’s not how things worked out for Cunningham with the New England Patriots. Nor as a member of the Ravens’ practice squad for the last season-and-a-half, but it’s debatable if his inside knowledge will truly give the Lions the secrets to stopping Jackson, who tormented the same opposition two years ago.
Malik Cunningham Plan Necessary for Desperate Lions
Teams using versatile athletes to replicate Jackson’s dual-threat skills in practice is nothing new. The New York Giants tried it with a dynamic kick returner last season, but it didn’t stop Jackson from throwing for 290 yards and five touchdowns.
A similar problem faces the Lions, who are desperate to avoid a repeat of “when Jackson threw for 357 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 36 yards and another score,” during a 38-6 Ravens win at M&T Bank Stadium in 2023, per Zrebiec.
That lopsided defeat left scars on the Lions, with Detroit head coach Dan Campbell admitting, “You don’t forget those because we didn’t even give ourselves a chance,” per ESPN’s Eric Woodyard.
Campbell needs any inside information Cunningham can provide because of Jackson’s history producing Monday Night Football magic. The 28-year-old’s numbers in primetime, via the The 33rd Team, are spectacular.
Jackson is also 24-2 against NFC opponents, per br_betting, so it will take more than what Cunningham knows for the Lions to slow down a playmaker reaching his peak.
Lamar Jackson Better than Ever for Ravens
He’s been near flawless during the first two weeks of the season, cementing his status as the player key to keeping the Super Bowl window open for the Ravens. Jackson has matured at a rapid rate since Todd Monken became offensive coordinator in 2023.
Now, in his third year in the system, Jackson knows where the ball is going and also knows his supporting cast is arguably the strongest of his career. Two-time NFL rushing champion Derrick Henry is still a force to be feared, despite a mediocre effort against AFC North rivals the Cleveland Browns in Week 2, while the Ravens have surrounded Jackson with superior pass-catchers.
He’s spreading receptions between third-year pro Zay Flowers, holdover Rashod Bateman and five-time Pro Bowler DeAndre Hopkins. The latter has already established a prolific rapport with Jackson that’s helped the mobile passer be more efficient through the air, evidenced by league-leading numbers listed by Kevin Oestreicher of Ravens Wire.
Putting a dent in those stats will require something special from the Lions. Something like spying Jackson in the pocket, a viable option because “the Lions had success with spies against the Bears and have done well to contain mobile QBs early in the season,” according to Zrebiec’s colleague Colton Pouncy.
It’s a sound strategy in theory, but Jackson is the premium athlete at his position in the modern game. He”s also throwing the ball at a career-best standard.
Cunningham won’t have prepared the Lions for this version of Baltimore’s QB1.
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