Efton Chism III isn’t wasting time on the noise.
After Bills safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson took a shot at him following Sunday’s game in Buffalo, the New England Patriots wide receiver kept his answer pointed toward the week ahead instead of firing back.
”He’s a great player. They’re a great team. I got a bunch of respect for him, but we’re excited for this week, looking forward to the Raiders,” Chism said at his locker.
That came after Chism delivered one of the early catch-of-the-year candidates, fully extending with one hand to snag the game-winning touchdown against Buffalo. Gardner-Johnson brushed it off afterward, saying, “An elevated guy made a hell of a catch - probably won’t hear from him again,” and then adding, “A practice squad player made a hell of a play.
That’s all I’m going to tell you. You do it again, and he probably won’t make it again.”
Chism, for his part, has never been on a practice squad in his career, and the Patriots are expecting to hear plenty more from him.
Opportunity is lining up for that to happen. With A.J. Brown remaining on injured reserve through at least next week and Mack Hollins (calf) out of Wednesday’s practice, Chism is positioned for a bigger role.
“For me, it’s just reset. The good, the bad, whatever it is, it’s getting back to my work and our work as a team. Try to stack another one,” Chism said.
“You never know when you’re going to get those opportunities. Just trying to take advantage of them.
Nobody ever wants to see people get hurt. I want those guys back, I know everyone else wants those guys back.
But continue to prepare like a starter.”
And it’s not just the injuries opening the door. Chism’s play Sunday and the work he’s put in behind the scenes are also pushing him toward more snaps.
Drake Maye praised how sharp Chism is, noting that he’s usually in the right place and giving the quarterback a sense of comfort. The two stay after practice nearly every day to get extra reps, and Maye said he’s eager to see what Chism can do if his role grows.
”It’s been awesome just seeing Chis come in here and be the same guy,” Maye said. “From Day 1, you saw.
You can tell when a guy from my experience, a receiver, who has a chance at making plays. You see that with Chis.
He’s fearless.
“He’s doing a lot of the little things. He’s just showing up.
He comes in everyday and always tries to see my side of things and ask questions and try to get on the same page. And that’s what happens: you start seeing the results.”
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