The 2025 NFL season may still be about two weeks away, but the New England Patriots are off to an encouraging start, winning both of their preseason games so far, each in rather convincing fashion. First, they beat the Washington Commanders â who made it to the NFC Championship game last season â 48-18. Then, on Saturday, they took care of the Minnesota Vikings 20-12.
Of course, preseason results tend to say little about what will take place once the games start to count, but after back-to-back 4-13 seasons, and only one winning record since 2019 (10-7 in 2021), the Patriots will take all of the positive signs they can get.
The Emergence of Efton Chism III
Within those two wins, the Patriots have seen the emergence of an undersized, underdog wide receiver who despite going undrafted now appears destined to make the Week One New England 53-man roster. The Patriots signed Efton Chism III as an undrafted free agent out of Eastern Washington, granting him a three year contract with a guaranteed $234,000 salary with a $25,000 signing bonus.
While that may not seem like much cash by NFL standards, the Patriots had to outbid six other teams to win the 5-foot-10, 198-pound Chism’s services, and the pay package they bestowed upon him was the highest of any of the 16 undrafted free agents signed by the team.
While most undrafted free agents on any team are never heard from again after training camp, the Patriots have retained at least one in every season of the last 21, except for 2023. This year, Chism has already made a strong case to make the team. He has essentially done nothing but get open and catch passes, with 12 receptions out of 14 targets for 121 yards and two touchdowns.
Chism Misses Monday Practice
But on Monday, Chism’s seemingly unstoppable path to the Patriots’ Week One roster may have hit an obstacle. The 23-year-old sat out Monday’s team practice with what CBS Sports called an “undisclosed injury,” but what longtime Patriots insider Mike Reiss of ESPN characterized as a “foot/ankle” issue.
Reiss reported on Monday that Chism’s injury did not appear to be a long term concern.
“He rode the stationary bike rather rigorously today,” Reiss reported. “Based on that eye test, seems like a shorter-term absence in play.”
Chism Broke Cooper Kupp’s College Record
“Chism made a number of big plays for the offense in New England’s 20-12 win over the Vikings on Saturday, when he shed several tackles and hauled in a team-high six receptions for 71 yards and a touchdown,” Matt Geagan of CBS Sports wrote Monday. “He shook off a number of would-be tacklers on his way to the end zone on his 12-yard touchdown reception in the second half, a play that likely locked in Chism’s spot on the 53-man roster. But the receiver also suffered his injury on that play, as CBS cameras showed Patriots team trainers tending to Chism on the bench following his score.”
Chism was a standout receiver for Eastern Washington, a school that competes in the Football Championship Subdivision, the second tier of college football, below the Football Bowl Subdivision â but has produced such NFL receivers as 2021 All-Pro Cooper Kupp, and the Patriots’ Kendrick Bourne.
But only two receivers in Eastern Washington history have ever caught more than 300 passes. One is Kupp.
The other is Chism.
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