As a rookie seventh-round draft pick, Patriots quarterback Behren Morton is no lock to make the 53-man roster. But he helped his chances in multiple ways in Saturday’s preseason game.
Morton did his most important job by playing well when running the offense late in the game, throwing the game-winning 37-yard touchdown pass in the final minute.
But Morton also showed he can be counted on in a pinch by punting very well after the Patriots’ regular punter, Bryce Baringer, left the game because he wasn’t feeling well. In Baringer’s absence, Morton punted three times for a 44.3-yard average.
“Tonight was fun. I wasn’t expecting to punt. It’s been since high school since I’ve punted. You’ve just got to make the most of your opportunity when it comes, so I tried to do that tonight,” Morton said. “Coach came up to me and just said, ‘If we’ve got to punt on this drive you’re going out there.’ I went over to the net, hit a few balls. I asked [long snapper Julian Ashby], ‘How far do I need to stand back?’ He told me 15 yards, catch the ball and then just put it down there.”
Morton, who never punted in college but did it in high school, said that on his first punt, he was taken aback by how close it came to getting blocked, but he was able to get it off.
“In high school, they didn’t rush that fast,” Morton said. “So the first rush kind of threw me by surprise.”
Morton showed good command of the offense late in the game, completing 13 of 17 passes for 129 yards and that game-winning touchdown. If he makes the roster, that’s why. But his ability to work as a fill-in punter doesn’t hurt.
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