EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Efton Chism III won’t soon forget this day.

The Patriots undrafted rookie wide receiver received the first extensive offensive snaps of his career in Sunday’s 42-10 win over the Jets, and his patience paid off with his first career NFL catch and touchdown.

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“Super special, super surreal,” Chism said after the game. “I think you always kind of dream of those moments, and then they happen, and I’m very blessed and thankful to be here and just have a great receiver room, great quarterback, great coaches, top down in our program. It’s special. I’m very thankful to be part of it.”

Chism, a preseason and training camp standout, entered Sunday’s matchup with just 25 offensive snaps and zero targets.

Quarterback Drake Maye counted on Chism in key moments Sunday, hitting the Eastern Washington product for a 30-yard gain on a slant on second-and-8 midway through the first quarter to help set up the Patriots’ second touchdown.

Chism also hauled in Maye’s fifth and final touchdown of the contest, scoring on a 10-yard pass in the red zone.

“Chis has been catching touchdowns on us on Fridays the entire year,” head coach Mike Vrabel said, referencing practice. “So it was good that he got one in the game, because he’s caught plenty of them on Fridays.”

The 24-year-old rookie first stood out over the spring during OTAs and minicamp. He had a slow start to the summer before becoming a favorite target of backup quarterbacks during training camp. He broke out in a big way and ultimately made the 53-man roster by catching 12 passes on 14 targets for 121 yards and two touchdowns in two preseason games before an injury kept him out of the Patriots’ third and final exhibition game.

Chism had a tough time seeing the field through the first 16 weeks of the season as Stefon Diggs, Kayshon Boutte, Mack Hollins and DeMario Douglas all proved to be dependable targets for Maye. Fellow rookie Kyle Williams, a 2025 third-round pick, also saw considerably more snaps than Chism to start the year.

But with Boutte out with a concussion and Hollins on injured reserve with an abdomen injury, Chism finally got his chance in Week 17. He played the majority of the Patriots’ Week 17 snaps, seeing time outside, in the slot and even in-line in a hybrid receiver/tight end role that Hollins typically plays.

Hollins and Chism have gotten close since the spring, so it was special that the veteran receiver made the trip to New Jersey despite his injury.

“I know that he’s happy for Chis, just because those two have been really close since the time that Chis got here,” Vrabel said. “And I think it’s been fun mentorship, and we’ll need that from Mack. We’ll need him to make contributions off the field as we move forward.

Hollins’ message to Chism after the touchdown was simple.

“Just said, ‘keep going. doesn’t matter, work, work’s never gonna stop, opportunities is opportunities.’ Him and I, our relationship’s special,” Chism said. “So pretty much just yelling and hugging. So I appreciate him, and he’s helped me tremendously as far as I’ve been here so far.”

Chism said he spent the end of the game with backup quarterback Joshua Dobbs talking about how blessed they both are to be playing in the NFL.

“Trying to just always keep that mindset when I pull into the parking lot in the morning, it’s the hugest blessing, and I’ll never take it for granted,” Chism said. “So continue to try to do that as my career goes on. Hopefully, I’m at Dobbs’ point at one point in Year 9.”

Chism will likely continue to see offensive snaps until Hollins returns off of injured reserve.