ALLEN PARK -- When speaking to reporters on Thursday, Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard showed no signs of nervousness or a lack of confidence as he prepares for his first regular-season game in his new role.
But he did seem a bit perplexed when discussing Lions linebacker Zach Cunningham, whom he acknowledged as a “plug-and-play” option for them in that rotation.
“To me, this is a starter in this league,” Sheppard said. “I have no idea what he did before he got here, or why he wasn’t starting or playing credible snaps the last two years. But this player, what he’s shown on our field, he’s a starting-caliber linebacker in this league.”
When told of Sheppard’s comments, Cunningham flashed a smile and shared his appreciation of his coordinator’s words.
“It means a lot, man. To get to this point where I’m at in my career and have people talking about me, it definitely means a lot,” Cunningham told MLive.
“Like you say, I’ve been around at this point. It just means a lot to hear that from someone you’re working with every day, someone that you’re seeing when you go out there, especially coming into this new system and everything, for sure.”
Cunningham, who led the NFL in tackles -- solo and combined -- in 2020, played seven games with the Broncos last season.
His previous meaningful starts happened during his lone season with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2023, where he started 10 of 13 games, logging 85 tackles and forcing one fumble.
Now in Detroit, Cunningham is looking to showcase his value in a linebacker room consisting of captain Alex Anzalone, Derrick Barnes, Jack Campbell, Malcolm Rodriguez, and special teamer Grant Stuard.
“I don’t think I’ve been in a room with that much depth and that level of play,” the 30-year-old defender said.
One reason Cunningham credits the Lions’ linebacker room as strongly as he does is because of position coach Shaun Dion Hamilton. Following Sheppard’s promotion to defensive coordinator, the Lions also promoted Hamilton from assistant linebackers coach to linebackers coach, Sheppard’s old role.
Referred to by Sheppard as a genius, Cunningham shared what makes Hamilton such a special coach and asset to the Lions’ linebacker corps.
“For any new coach, it is learning your players, learning your guys. I’ve seen him being able to learn this more,” Cunningham said. “You got vets in the room, you got newer guys in the room. So just seeing that learning process and getting to know what players are good at, what players need to work on, stuff like that -- yeah, I’ve definitely seen growth in that area.”
On Sunday, Cunningham will take the field in his first regular-season game with the Lions, a division matchup with the Green Bay Packers at the football mecca known as Lambeau Field.
“It’s always fun playing somewhere like that, for sure,” Cunningham said. “It’s football. That’s big-time football. Pure sport, for sure.”
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