FOXBORO — The Patriots surrendered a 14-play touchdown drive to open Thursday night’s game — and lost one of their best defensive players in the process.

Star defensive tackle and co-captain Milton Williams suffered an ankle injury on a collision with fellow D-tackle Christian Barmore. Barmore was blocked into Williams during a third-down scramble by Jets quarterback Justin Fields.

Williams was evaluated in the sideline medical tent, then exited down the tunnel. The Patriots announced he was questionable to return.

UPDATE: Williams’ trip to the locker room was brief. He returned to the game early in the second quarter.

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Signed to a four-year, $104 million contract this offseason, Williams has started all 11 games for the Patriots, tallying 27 tackles, 3 1/2 sacks, eight QB hits and seven tackles for loss.

The former Philadelphia Eagle leads all New England D-linemen in snaps played this season — his snap rate entering Thursday was a career-high 65.4% — and has helped anchor a Patriots run defense that came in ranked first in the NFL in yards allowed per game and fourth in yards allowed per carry.

Cory Durden and rookie Eric Gregory were the Patriots’ depth options against New York behind starting D-tackles Williams, Barmore and Khyris Tonga. Gregory was making his NFL debut after sitting out the first 10 games as a healthy scratch. The undrafted free agent got the nod in place of fourth-round rookie Joshua Farmer, who missed the game with an ankle injury.

The Jets converted four third downs on their opening possession, which Fields capped with a 5-yard touchdown run.