Bills' Gardner-Johnson Dismisses Chism's 19-Yard Winner After 29-26 Loss

Q: Will Drake Maye's resilient comeback and Efton Chism's clutch touchdown secure Chism a permanent starting role?

Not by itself. Chism’s touchdown and Drake Maye’s comeback made a strong case for a bigger role, but they do not guarantee Chism a permanent starting job. What the play likely secured is stability on the roster and a serious look for more snaps. Chism was already valued for his work ethic, toughness and special-teams versatility, and both Mike Vrabel and Maye publicly backed him after the win. In Buffalo, he produced under pressure after entering with almost no offensive track record, and he did it while filling in because of injuries and a still-shifting receiver rotation. The bigger obstacle is the depth chart. A.J. Brown remains the clear No. 1 when healthy, and Romeo Doubs is expected to hold a major role. DeMario Douglas has a defined slot function, while Mack Hollins had been heavily involved before leaving the Bills game with a calf injury. That means Chism is competing less for a full-time starting post than for sustained inclusion in the weekly offensive plan. His outlook improves if Hollins misses time or if New England continues to reward reliability over pedigree in a crowded room. The touchdown, combined with his special-teams value, probably moved Chism from roster-bubble receiver to trusted contributor. But to lock down a permanent starting role, he will need repeated production over the next several weeks, not just one signature catch.

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Oct 5

C.J. Gardner-Johnson brushed off Efton Chism III's one-handed touchdown after Buffalo's 29-26 home loss, saying, "Probably won't hear from him again" and calling the second-year Patriot an "elevated guy."
That jab followed Chism's 19-yard go-ahead catch with 1:50 left, a grab over tight coverage that helped hand the Bills their first defeat after a 3-0 start.
Chism, who has been on New England's 53-man roster all season, ignored the slight and said he "black[s] out" when the ball is in the air, focusing only on finishing the play.
Drake Maye's 22-of-37, 269-yard, three-touchdown outing and Romeo Doubs' two scores lifted the Patriots to 2-2 and reinforced the impact of Chism's breakout moment.