Buffalo Bills safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson didn’t exactly have the correct scouting report on Efton Chism III.
Practice squad player.
Elevated guy.
Chism is neither.
He was the receiver who made the catch of the day, a ridiculous one-handed touchdown with 1:50 left that put the New England Patriots ahead for good in a 29-26 win over the Buffalo Bills.
“A practice squad player made a hell of a play,” Gardner-Johnson said afterward. “That’s all I’m going to tell you. You throw it again he probably won’t make it again. Simple.”
The play came on third-and-5 from the Buffalo 23.
Chism was one-on-one with Bills rookie cornerback Davison Igbinosun down the right sideline when Drake Maye gave him a chance in the end zone. Chism extended his right arm, leaped
from around the 1-yard line and pulled the ball in with one hand before tumbling several yards into the end zone.
Touchdown.
New England took a 27-26 lead, then Maye hit Rhamondre Stevenson for the two-point conversion.
Gardner-Johnson wasn’t done demoting Chism.
While discussing New England’s offense after the game, he referred to Chism as “an elevated guy” and said the Patriots hadn’t done anything special.
“They didn't do nothing crazy,” Gardner-Johnson said. “An elevated guy made a hell of a catch. We probably won't hear from him again. Respectfully.”
Except Chism wasn’t elevated for the game.
One of the two players had actually spent time on a practice squad last season.
It wasn’t Chism.
Gardner-Johnson signed with the Baltimore Ravens’ practice squad in October 2025 after being released by the Houston Texans. Chism, meanwhile, made the Patriots’ 53-man roster as an undrafted rookie in 2025 and did it again this season.
Chism made the Patriots’ 53-man roster as an undrafted rookie in 2025 and did it again this season. He played a season-high 34 snaps against Buffalo with Mack Hollins sidelined by a calf injury.
TOUCHDOWN PATRIOTS.
— NFL (@NFL) October 4, 2026
What a catch by Efton Chism III to take the lead!@NEvsBUF on CBS/Paramount+
Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/DtIZoenYNL
And that game-winning catch wasn’t Chism’s only big play on the drive.
Earlier in the possession, Chism went up for a 19-yard reception that moved New England to the Buffalo 28.
Four plays later came the one-handed touchdown.
“When I’m out there and the ball is in the air, I kinda black out,” Chism said. “I’m kinda in that little flow state. Saw it in the air. Drake gave me an opportunity and you got to come down with those opportunities. You don’t know how many you’re going to get.”
His teammates and coaches sounded far less surprised.
“Snag of the year, man,” Patriots receiver Romeo Doubs said. “I watched the kid work all week. I’m just blessed to be around someone like him.”
Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel pointed to the work Chism puts in before most players are even in the building.
“Nobody works harder,” Vrabel said. “There are plenty of guys who work hard, but I mean, Chiz is literally in (wide receivers coach) Todd Downing’s office before 6 o’clock every morning, if not 5:30, getting the game plan down to know every position.”
Vrabel said seeing Chism take advantage of a critical opportunity “is what this league is about.”
Gardner-Johnson’s scouting report wasn’t the only thing that was a little off.
He wondered aloud afterward whether New England was “three of something” on third down.
The Patriots actually converted 5 of 12.
Gardner-Johnson also said New England “barely scored.”
The Patriots scored 29 points and finished with 405 yards and 26 first downs, all season highs.
“They wanted to give us the game,” Gardner-Johnson said. “They didn't have no confidence. That's why they struggled all game.”
“Everyone knows who is the better team/ The better team lost today. But we'll come back, we'll be back.”
But Gardner-Johnson mixed in an assessment that was harder to dispute.
“Our best is required at all times, not just certain times,” Gardner-Johnson said. “I feel like today they got the best of us. You've just got to come out and play better.”
Chism was an FCS All-American at Eastern Washington, where he caught 346 passes for 3,852 yards and 37 touchdowns in five seasons. Chism, whose father is a Marine Corps veteran, had a reception in 53 straight games in college and in 2024 he made 120 receptions to break Cooper Kupp's school record.
Gardner-Johnson didn’t seem to know much about him.
The Patriots knew enough to throw him the ball with the game on the line.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: C.J. Gardner-Johnson calls Patriots hero Efton Chism a practice squad player. He isn’t
