Joe Milton is already making highlight reel plays in preseason debut

Former Tennessee football quarterback Joe Milton made his professional football debut on Thursday night with the New England Patriots. Milton threw 4-for-6 for 54 yards in the Patriots' 17-3 win over Carolina and was the only quarterback to throw a touchdown pass in the preseason opener.

All four Patriots quarterbacks played in the Patriots' preseason debut, and Milton showed out in his limited snaps. Fellow rookie Drake Maye was two-for-three for 19 passing yards. Bailey Zappe finished the night with the most passing yards, throwing 12-for-20 for 108 yards. 

Unlike the other three quarterbacks, Milton also made an impact with his legs. Milton rushed for 22 rushing yards, which tied running back Kevin Harris for the second-most rushing yards in the game. 

Milton's first highlight play came in the third quarter on second and five, when he scrambled out of the pocket and ran for the first down.

The league is already taking notice of Milton's skillset. He came into the league with one of the best arms as a rookie and showed its potential in the fourth quarter for the Patriots' only passing touchdown of the game. 

VFL and Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo also noticed Milton's quarterback improvements since arriving in New England. 

"He has natural leadership ability," Jerod Mayo said after the Patriots' win. "But once again, it's not just about one game; it's about the full body of work. You can come out here and play well, but you also have to do it on a day-to-day basis, in practice, and you've got to gain the confidence of not only the coaches but also your teammates. And this was a step forward for him."

If Milton can continue playing at a high level, he could start the regular season as the backup quarterback. The Patriots will play the Philadelphia Eagles next Thursday for Week 2 of the preseason as they figure out their quarterback depth chart.