"The undrafted linebacker, Elijah Ponder, has had an up-and-down tenure in New England so far, going into the 2025 season looking like an easy cut candidate. He managed to turn that around and make the 53-man roster, and now looks like a home run addition that can't continue to be overlooked. The defense will certainly need him to replicate that kind of production next week when they face the STEELERS OR TEXANS on Sunday."
"During a game headlined by the defense, with standout performances from Christian Gonzalez, Marcus Jones, and Milton Williams, Elijah Ponder deserves to be in the same conversation when reflecting on the group's performance. The rookie's speed off the line was particularly impressive, especially in the second half, when the pass rush finally came alive and brought the pressure to Justin Herbert in a way he wasn't expecting."
Patriots' defense dominated the Chargers, especially in the second half, overcoming season-long inconsistency. The pass rush surged, pressuring Justin Herbert and changing the game's momentum. Undrafted linebacker Elijah Ponder turned an uncertain roster outlook into a roster spot, showcasing elite first-step burst and notable speed off the line. NextGenStats recorded a 0.83 Get-Off, the fastest among Patriots edge defenders that game. Ponder's emergence complements standout teammates Christian Gonzalez, Marcus Jones, and Milton Williams. The defense will rely on Ponder to replicate his production against the Steelers or Texans in the upcoming divisional-round matchup.
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