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          Patriots rookie Ja'Lynn Polk catches first NFL touchdown

          Ja'Lynn Polk caught his first NFL touchdown Sunday. Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images
          • Mike Reiss, ESPN Staff WriterSep 15, 2024, 01:34 PM ET
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              Mike Reiss is an NFL reporter at ESPN and covers the New England Patriots. Reiss has covered the Patriots since 1997 and joined ESPN in 2009. In 2019, he was named Massachusetts Sportswriter of the Year by the National Sports Media Association. You can follow Reiss on Twitter at @MikeReiss.
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          FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- New England Patriots rookie receiver Ja'Lynn Polk caught a 5-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Jacoby Brissett with 4:56 remaining in the first quarter of their home opener against the Seattle Seahawks, and then was gifted the football as a present by veteran receiver K.J. Osborn.

          After Polk caught the fastball from Brissett, Osborn pretended to wrap the football before handing it to Polk to commemorate his first career NFL touchdown.

          The play gave the Patriots a 7-0 lead. Polk, the second-round pick from the University of Washington (No. 37 overall), had played 35 snaps in the Patriots' season-opening win, and coach Jerod Mayo said he would have an expanded role in Week 2. Polk was on the field for the team's first 11 offensive snaps.