Patriots' Joe Milton: Encouraging performance Thursday

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Milton completed four of six passes for 54 yards and a touchdown and added five rushes for 22 yards in the Patriots' 17-3 preseason win over the Panthers on Thursday.

Milton entered the game with 4:01 remaining in the third quarter and got off on the right foot with a five-yard completion to fellow rookie Javon Baker. Milton went on to record a memorable 13-yard scramble during that initial possession before capping off his second drive with a 38-yard touchdown pass to JaQuae Jackson at the 9:00 minute mark of the fourth quarter. Milton is battling incumbent Bailey Zappe, who was solid in his own right Thursday while throwing for 108 yards, for the No. 3 quarterback job. Nevertheless, Milton at least makes the competition a bit more intriguing with this debut effort, and the rookie sixth-round pick could certainly get a more extensive platform to make his case in the Patriots' second preseason game next Thursday night against the Eagles.