Patriots Rookie QB Reveals Story Behind Surprise Punting Role image
May 9, 2026; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Behren Morton (15) takes questions from the media after rookie camp at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images
Behren Morton entered Saturday night hoping to show the New England Patriots what he could do at quarterback. He ended up auditioning at two positions.
Morton replaced Tommy DeVito behind center in the second half of New England’s 24-21 preseason victory over the Philadelphia Eagles at Gillette Stadium. The rookie also unexpectedly took over as the Patriots’ punter after Bryce Baringer began feeling unwell.
Morton handled both jobs remarkably well.
The seventh-round pick completed 13 of 17 passes for 129 yards and a touchdown. He also punted three times for 133 yards, averaging 44.3 yards per attempt with a long of 48. It was the type of stat line rarely seen from an NFL quarterback, even during the unpredictable preseason.
Behren Morton Needed Quick Punting Lesson
Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel explained after the game that Baringer “wasn’t feeling great” following his first two punts. That forced New England to find an emergency replacement. Morton had experience punting in high school, making him the logical choice. His previous experience did not mean he remembered every detail of the job, however.
The rookie told reporters he asked long snapper Julian Ashby how far behind the line of scrimmage he needed to stand. Ashby informed him the answer was 15 yards, according to ESPN’s Mike Reiss.
Morton quickly discovered why the distance was important.
“One thing that stood out to him was how fast the rush was coming at him,” Reiss wrote on X.
Morton’s first punt traveled 43 yards late in the second quarter. His longest attempt went 48 yards, helping the Patriots avoid a special teams disaster after losing their regular punter.
It was Morton’s first in-game punt since high school.
Morton Delivers At His Actual Position
Morton’s emergency special teams work made for a fun story, but his performance at quarterback mattered much more to his future with the Patriots.
The rookie took over in the second half and played with considerably more confidence than he showed in New England’s preseason opener. Morton completed seven of 13 passes for 66 yards in the Patriots’ 13-13 tie against the Indianapolis Colts.
He was sharper against Philadelphia, completing more than 76% of his attempts.
Morton’s best moment came during an 11-play, 73-yard fourth-quarter drive. He dropped a pass over the Philadelphia secondary and into the hands of Nick DeGennaro for a 37-yard touchdown.
The score gave New England a 24-21 lead it never surrendered.
Morton also avoided committing a turnover. That was important for a late-round rookie attempting to earn the coaching staff’s trust as the third quarterback behind Drake Maye and DeVito.
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Patriots Discover Unexpected Emergency Option
No one should expect Morton to compete with Baringer for the punting job. The Patriots would much rather have their regular specialist healthy and available.
Still, Morton’s versatility gave Vrabel a solution when an unusual problem surfaced.
Baringer has been New England’s primary punter since the Patriots selected him in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft. He had no direct competition on the roster entering training camp, leaving the team without another specialist when he could not continue Saturday. Morton’s high school experience suddenly became valuable.
The Texas Tech product was selected with the No. 234 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. His primary challenge is proving he can develop into a reliable NFL quarterback, but handling an emergency assignment without hesitation will not hurt his standing with the coaching staff.
Vrabel values players who can contribute in multiple ways. Morton took that concept to an entirely different level against the Eagles. He threw the go-ahead touchdown, punted three times and helped the Patriots earn their first preseason victory. That is a productive night for any rookie, especially one who needed a quick reminder of where to stand before receiving his first long snap.
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