Joe Milton III was informed he would play vs. Payments ‘after the kickoff’

Although it might not have been a win Patriots followers wished — with the No. 1 decide within the 2025 NFL draft hanging within the steadiness — rookie quarterback Joe Milton III supplied a breath of contemporary air on the ultimate day of what has been a tough season in New England.

Milton, 24, made his common season NFL debut after changing fellow Patriots rookie QB Drake Maye following the primary sequence of the 23-16 victory over the Payments on a chilly and sparsely attended January day at Gillette Stadium. Although he arrived with much less hype (as a sixth-rounder to Maye’s first-round standing), Milton confirmed he has the power to play properly.

He completed 22-of-29 with 241 yards passing and two complete touchdowns (one passing, one speeding). Afterward, he admitted the complete realization of what he’d completed was nonetheless sinking in.

“Nonetheless to this second proper now, none of this feels actual simply because I did scout staff all 12 months,” Milton informed reporters. “I didn’t know when my second was going to come back. Everybody within the constructing simply saved saying the identical factor: ‘Simply be prepared on your second.’ And I didn’t understand it was going to come back as we speak. Like I mentioned all week, if alternative offered itself, I’d be prepared.”

Whereas it appeared the Patriots had pre-planned Maye’s elimination after a single sequence, it was information to Milton.

“After the kickoff they had been like, ‘Hey, you’re getting in subsequent sequence,’” Milton mentioned when requested when he knew he’d play. “I used to be like, ‘Alright, let’s do it.’”

“I feel I proved it to myself, prefer it’s at all times been, simply exhibiting that I’m capable of be right here, capable of play this sport,” he added in response to a query about what he “proved” with the win.

Whilst he candidly acknowledged to creating a basic mistake at one level with a throw throughout his physique — “that’s simply dangerous quarterback play” — Milton defined that his rapport with periodic scout-teamer Kayshon Boutte helped throughout their connection for a 48-yard landing.

“I really feel like that really confirmed up as a result of Ok-Boutte truly [is] on scout staff with me typically,” mentioned Milton. “He will get his additional reps like that, and we’ve made performs like that earlier than, so simply seeing it come to actuality was very enjoyable.”

Joe Milton is balling in his debut! 48-yard TD go to Boutte!

📺: #BUFvsNE on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/u2W48Voqvr

— NFL (@NFL) January 5, 2025

Milton supplied context about his expertise that day, noting that it had largely been a standard game-day routine with one exception.

“I didn’t eat something in any respect, so I’m able to eat,” he joked. “However aside from that, it was an everyday day to me. Felt calm, felt cool. Everyone had my again as we speak, similar to each different quarterback that comes by way of right here. The staff has Drake’s again and as we speak that they had my again.”

As for Maye, Milton paid credit score to his fellow rookie (who began the sport however rapidly exited, capping what has been a promising first season).

“Drake’s my man,” mentioned Milton. “I don’t know if there’s anyone else on this constructing that’s as cool as him. You don’t see Drake get mad. You don’t see him get riled up. He’s simply cool, calm, and picked up, and as a quarterback that’s how you must be.”

After all, Patriots followers with a wider angle of perspective had been dissatisfied in a way that the staff received, because it price New England an opportunity at having the No. 1 total decide.

Milton mentioned it was by no means his or his staff’s concern amid the calls for of an everyday season NFL conflict, no matter circumstances.

“We have now to deal with our program as it’s proper now,” he mentioned. “We are able to’t suppose too far sooner or later, can’t suppose too far previously. We’re simply being precisely the place our toes are proper now.

“We’re simply being proper right here within the second. Interested by a decide proper now’s manner out of our fingers,” he continued. “At present the primary focus was to win.”

Wanting forward, Milton is simply making an attempt to maintain his concentrate on maximizing his NFL alternatives.

“I really feel like as we speak was a terrific step in the suitable path for my improvement, my future itself, simply since you by no means know. The complete size of a mean NFL profession is three years, so simply making an attempt to take each rep that I get — whether or not it’s in observe or in a sport — simply making an attempt to take it critically as a lot as I can. No matter it takes, no matter I’ve acquired to do, I’ll do it.”