FOXBOXO — Two season-ending injuries in three years haven’t taken their toll on Patriots linebacker Raekwon McMillan.

The 28-year-old was a defensive standout for the Patriots in their 14-13 preseason loss to the Eagles on Thursday night. McMillan led the team with eight tackles. He recorded one tackle for loss and assisted on another, adding a tackle on special teams, as well.

“I would just say tone-setter,” head coach Jerod Mayo said of McMillan. “He went out there on special teams and defense and made a bunch of plays. He was coming downhill. We talk about block destruction, he was flying around, and I love to see it. I know what he’s been through the last couple of years, and it was good to see him out there playing good ball.”

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McMillan initially signed with the Patriots in 2021 but tore his ACL during training camp and missed the season. He played 16 games, starting one, in 2022 but tore his Achilles last spring and missed the 2023 season.

“It’s a blessing to be back, my feet active,” McMillan told the Herald on Thursday night. “Last year, watching the team and how the season went last year, it sucked, but I’m glad to be able to be back and contribute with this team.”

McMillan said he took the offseason to not only rehab his Achilles but his “entire body” to make sure he avoided injuries this season.

“I just go into the mindset with the mentality that I’ve been everywhere. I’ve been through the highs and lows. I just go out there with a youthful mindset like it’s my first time playing the football game,” McMillan said. “Just go out there and have fun, not really think about the past injuries, just keep on pushing.”

The veteran linebacker, who also missed his rookie season with a torn ACL, entered the NFL with the Dolphins as a second-round pick out of Ohio State. He played the 2020 season with the Raiders before initially signing with the Patriots.

He was encouraged by his play Thursday night.

“I gotta see how the film went. I put my hat on some people out there today, but I gotta go back and watch the tape and get the details of it, but I felt light on my feet today,” McMillan said. “I felt like I was moving pretty good.”

The Patriots are well-stocked at linebacker with Ja’Whaun Bentley and Jahlani Tavai as starters and McMillan, Christian Elliss and Joe Giles-Harris currently vying for playing time. Sione Takitaki was expected to be the Patriots’ top backup at linebacker, but he’s spent all of training camp on the PUP list.

Extra points

Mayo had said earlier in the week that if a starting player fought during a joint practice with the Eagles that he would be forced to play the entire preseason game. Josh Uche, who got into a shoving match with Eagles players in practice, played into the second half Thursday. Mayo said that was unrelated to the scuffle because no punches were thrown … X-rays came back negative for JaQuae Jackson after the undrafted rookie was carted off of the field Thursday, according to Mayo. Jackson is set to undergo an MRI … Cornerbacks Jonathan Jones and Marcus Jones are “very close to returning” from injuries, per Mayo … With the Joneses out, Alex Austin, Marco Wilson and Isaiah Bolden have seen increased reps, Mayo is still looking for “consistency” out of those players … The kicking competition between Joey Slye and Chad Ryland is “still up in the air,” per Mayo.