Here's something you don't see every day: an undrafted rookie who dominated preseason is finally getting his shot—but only because of a devastating injury to a teammate. Is this the break Efton Chism has been waiting for, or a bittersweet debut under pressure? Let's dive into what's happening with the Patriots' roster for Week 6.
For the very first time this season, New England Patriots rookie wide receiver Efton Chism will step onto an NFL field during a regular-season game. After being listed as a healthy scratch for each of the first five weeks, the undrafted newcomer has finally been activated for Sunday's matchup against the New Orleans Saints. The team's official game day inactive list was released, and for the first time all year, Chism's name was nowhere to be found on it.
So what changed? The Patriots found themselves in a difficult situation following the unfortunate ACL injury that running back Antonio Gibson sustained during last Sunday's game in Buffalo. This injury forced the coaching staff to completely restructure their kick return unit, and that's where Chism comes into the picture. The young receiver is being considered as a prime candidate to fill the void left by Gibson's absence on special teams.
Chism brings legitimate credentials to the kick return role. Throughout his five-year collegiate career at Eastern Washington, he demonstrated consistent ability in the return game, bringing back 31 kickoffs for a total of 651 yards. That works out to an impressive average of 21.0 yards per return—a stat that certainly caught the attention of New England's special teams coordinators.
The 23-year-old wideout joined the Patriots organization as an undrafted rookie free agent following this year's NFL Draft. While he didn't hear his name called during the draft proceedings, Chism quickly proved he belonged. During training camp and preseason action, he appeared to be a seamless fit within offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels' system. His preseason performance was nothing short of spectacular—he led the entire Patriots roster in receiving during the exhibition games, recording 12 receptions for 121 yards and two touchdowns across just two preseason contests. Those impressive numbers were enough to earn him a coveted spot on New England's 53-man roster when final cuts were made at the end of August.
But here's where it gets controversial: Should the Patriots have given Chism playing time earlier in the season based on his preseason dominance, or were they right to keep him on the sidelines until an injury created necessity? Some fans might argue that talent should trump depth chart politics.
Let's break down who won't be suiting up for the Patriots in this Week 6 showdown:
New England's Inactive Players:
- Third-string quarterback Tommy DeVito
- Offensive lineman Caedan Wallace
- Defensive tackle Eric Gregory
- Edge defender Anfernee Jennings
- Edge defender Keion White
- Safety Jaylinn Hawkins
Beyond Antonio Gibson—who has already been officially transferred to injured reserve, opening up a roster spot—the Patriots declared three additional players as ruled out on their final injury report released Friday afternoon. Edge rushers Keion White, dealing with an elbow issue, and Anfernee Jennings, nursing an ankle injury, will both miss the trip to Louisiana. Safety Jaylinn Hawkins is also sidelined due to a hamstring problem, preventing him from making the journey to New Orleans.
Rounding out the inactive list are three healthy scratches—players who simply haven't cracked the game day lineup at any point this season. On a more positive note, all players who carried the "questionable" designation have been medically cleared and will be available for action. Linebacker Marte Mapu, who's been managing both neck and hamstring concerns, has gotten the green light. Cornerback Christian Gonzalez, dealing with his own hamstring issue, is ready to go. Cornerback Charles Woods, working through a knee problem, has also been cleared for Sunday. Additionally, defensive tackle Milton Williams—who was added to the injury report late in the week due to an illness—has recovered and will be active.
New Orleans' Inactive Players:
- Offensive lineman Torricelli Simpkins
- Offensive lineman Xavier Truss
- Defensive tackle Khristian Boyd
- Defensive back Rejzohn Wright
- Defensive back Ugo Amadi
- Cornerback Isaac Yiadom
And this is the part most people miss: The most significant name for the Saints isn't on the inactive list at all. Star running back Alvin Kamara, who entered the weekend with a questionable tag due to an ankle injury, has been fully cleared to play on Sunday. His presence in the lineup could be a game-changer for New Orleans' offensive attack.
The opening kickoff between the New England Patriots and the New Orleans Saints is scheduled for 1 p.m. Eastern Time at the Saints' home venue, the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans.
So here's the question for you: Do you think Chism will prove he should have been playing all along, or will this debut reveal why the coaching staff kept him inactive? And is it fair that injuries often become the only pathway for talented rookies to see the field? Drop your thoughts in the comments—let's hear whether you think the Patriots made the right call waiting this long!
