New England Patriots receiver Efton Chism III splashed into the national spotlight with a one-handed game-winning touchdown Sunday against the Buffalo Bills.
Former Pats receiver Julian Edelman, who knows about carving out a career, believes Chism can take the play and run with it.
"Chism wasn't known before [Sunday], but it's a play like that starts someone's career potentially," Edelman said on the "Gronk & Jules Show." "That's awesome to see."
Those who followed the Pats' offseason knew the second-year undrafted free agent made plays and forced his way onto the 53-man roster out of training camp. Chism's presence was one reason New England felt comfortable trading Kayshon Boutte.
Last year, Chism appeared in eight games, mostly playing special teams, catching three passes for 75 yards in two late-season blowouts. With injuries to the receiver corps at the start of the season, including A.J. Brown's trip to injured reserve, Chism has gotten more opportunities. He's played 60 offensive snaps the past three weeks, catching four passes for 41 yards, including Sunday's 23-yard TD grab.
Rob Gronkowski made it clear that while Chism made a great grab, no one should be making a comparison to Edelman at this point.
"He stepped up in a huge way," Gronkowski said. "Julian, there's so many people after that catch being like, 'Is that Edelman out there?' I heard the room say that, a couple people. That ain't no Edelman.
"Efton Chism, I think, had negative-1 yard going into this game, and he played lights out with the opportunities that he got. I think he had another big catch as well. That's how you win games and become a complete team when a guy like Efton Chism -- who hasn't even been playing this year, he's a special teamer -- comes in with a huge one-handed grab to win the game."
Coach Mike Vrabel has praised Chism's work ethic and said this week that if Chism keeps responding to opportunities, he'll get more chances. It's on the 24-year-old to make the most of them.
After the game, Bills safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson took a shot at Chism, erroneously suggesting that the Pats receiver came off the practice squad.
"An elevated guy made a hell of a catch -- probably won't hear from him again," Gardner-Johnson said.
Time will tell if CJGJ is right, or if Chism takes this opportunity and runs with it. The ball is in the WR's court.
