Pats Pulpit
As Efton Chism III sat on the Patriots bench near the end of a 42-10 victory over the Jets, he had a moment of reflection with quarterback Joshua Dobbs.
“Just talking about how blessed we are to be here,” Chism said. “How people would do anything just to practice like Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday — like people would do anything to do that.
“So, when you get the opportunity to play on Sunday and then talking to Dobbs and he’s year nine, sometimes you don’t realize how blessed and thankful you really are. Trying to just always keep that mindset when I pull into the parking lot in the morning, man, it’s the hugest blessing and I’ll never take it for granted.”
Chism had his reasons to be reflecting Sunday.
Entering the day with just 25 total offensive snaps on the season, the undrafted wide receiver played a career-high 41 snaps as the Patriots dealt with injuries to their wide receiver depth chart. His patience was rewarded with his first career catch — a 30-yarder — and touchdown.
“Super special, super surreal,” Chism said. “I think you always kind of dream of those moments, and then they happen, and I’m very blessed and thankful to be here and just have a great receiver room, great quarterback, great coaches, top down everyone in our program. It’s special. I’m very thankful to be part of it.”
The touchdown — which saw Chism haul in a sliding catch through contact in the end zone — was nothing new to his Patriots coaches and teammates.
“Chis has been catching touchdowns on us on Fridays the entire year,” head coach Mike Vrabel said. “So it was good that he got one in the game, because he’s caught plenty of them on Fridays [in practice].”
A standout performer in the spring and summer to earn a 53-man roster spot, a crowded wide receiver room had left Chism to be active on the game day roster just six times entering Sunday.
In his first extensive action, Chism spent his time both out wide and in the slot as he helped fill the void of Mack Hollins, a veteran who the rookie has developed a close relationship with throughout the year.
“I know that [Mack’s] happy for Chis, just because those two have been really close since the time that Chis got here,” Vrabel said. “And I think it’s been fun mentorship, and we’ll need that from Mack. We’ll need him to make contributions off the field as we move forward.”
Hollins, who made the trip Sunday despite landing on injured reserve this week due to an abdomen injury, had a simple message to Chism after his first career touchdown.
“Just said, ‘Keep going. Doesn’t matter, work’s never gonna stop, opportunities is opportunities’,” Chism said. “Him and I, our relationship’s special. So pretty much just yelling and hugging. So I appreciate him, and he’s helped me tremendously as far as I’ve been here so far.”
