FOXBOROUGH – Elijah Ponder made a good impression this offseason. An undrafted free agent, the edge rusher looked like an under-the-radar gem for the Patriots . That’s why he made the team’s 53-man roster.

As this season’s gone on, the rookie continues to impress.

Following the trade deadline, where the Patriots traded away veteran edge rusher Keion White, Ponder was elevated up the team’s depth chart. With two sacks in the last three games, this rookie continues to make a good impression on his position coach, Mike Smith .

“He’s just getting better every week,” Smith said. “There’s still a handful of things he’s got to work on and always got to work on, but he’s just a kid that man, we’re lucky to get him. It was a great find. It’s a great one.”

A veteran outside linebackers c

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