Inside linebacker Zach Cunningham made his Tennessee Titans debut in the Week 15 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers and wasted no time making an impact.
Cunningham, who got the start and out-snapped Jayon Brown, looked plenty comfortable in his first game with the Titans, as he was flying around the field making plays and finished with a team-high six tackles.
On Monday, Titans head coach Mike Vrabel said Cunningham is off to a “good start,” and that the team would “continue to work with Zach and focus on improving mentally,” per Jim Wyatt of Titans Online.
Defensive coordinator Shane Bowen was happy with the way his new linebacker executed, also.
Shane Bowen on Zach Cunningham: He came in and taken the bull by the horns. He hasn't made the Dame mistake twice. That made us comfortable with him. He went out there and executed. #Titans
— TURRON DAVENPORT (@TDavenport_NFL) December 20, 2021
NFL Network analyst Brian Baldinger highlighted Cunningham’s impressive debut in this film breakdown.
.@Titans @ZCunningham_LB got a new lease in his #NFL life back in the ‘Ville and throwing a hittin parteee. I like this kinda football #titanup #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/4BL5PhGsxy
— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) December 20, 2021
If Cunningham can get back to the high level of play we saw during his earlier years with the Houston Texans, Tennessee will have an embarrassment of riches on defense when everyone is healthy.
The emergence of Cunningham becomes even more important when you consider the long-term absence of starter David Long, who has missed the last five games and is on track to not play once again in Week 16 after not practicing on Monday.
Cunningham and the Titans will be back in action on “Thursday Night Football” in Week 16 when they host the San Francisco 49ers.
