Patriots Linebacker Records Sack in Preseason Opener Against Panthers

New England Patriots football is back! The 2024 NFL season is officially here as the Patriots first preseason game against the Carolina Panthers is underway.

The biggest takeaways in the first half of the game have been the great play of the Patriots defense. The team recorded its second sack of the game on a third and five play in the Panthers territory. Patriots linebacker Christian Elliss got his first of the preseason as he came up the middle of the offensive line to knock down Panthers quarterback Jack Plummer.

Elliss a UDFA out of Idaho in 2021 signed with the Patriots last season. He is working to get a bigger role on the defense as he only recorded two tackles in four games played last season.

This is the first preseason game for the New England Patriots against the Carolina Panthers on Thursday. The team will play two more before they must cut the roster to 53 players in preparation for Week 1 of the NFL Regular season. The Patriots will open the year on the road at Paycor Stadium against the Cincinnati Bengals on September 8th at 1 PM EST.

One of the main focuses of the first game of the preseason for the Patriots will be the first professional action of rookie quarterback Drake Maye who was selected with the third overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft this past offseason. You can find a list of the rest of the rookies drafted this season on the Patriots roster here .

The game will also be the first under the new head coaching regime led by former player Jerod Mayo. He takes over with huge shoes to fill after New England moved on from future Hall of Fame coach Bill Belichick after 24 seasons.

Be sure to stay up to date with Patriots Country to catch more highlights and analysis from Thursday’s Preseason opener.