Foxborough, Massachusetts - One of the NFL's highest-rated rookies got his first chance to play in pads at quarterback for the Patriots as they took on the Washington Football Team (WFT) on Thursday night.

The Patriots and WFT saw their first action in the 2021 NFL preseason, with New England gutting out the 22-13 win over Washington at home.

Patriots fans got to see their top two passers going through their competition for the starting job as 11-year veteran Cam Newton (32) and rookie Mac Jones both saw action in this matchup. Newton started the game but had a rough outing, capped off by Washington’s Chase Young sacking him and causing a fumble. Newton went 4-for-7, passing for only 49 yards.

After two series, Jones got the ball and had a better performance, throwing for 87 yards off 13 of 19 pass attempts. The first-round draft pick out of the University of Alabama had no turnovers in a decent outing for someone who’s still fresh into making the transition from the college ranks into the pros.

New England was reduced to relying on Quinn Nordin’s foot for three field goals through the first three quarters, while WFT did get into the endzone before halftime, thanks to a one-yard run by Peyton Barber. The fourth quarter was where things heated up a little more when another Patriots rookie, Rhamondre Stevenson, scored a touchdown early in the fourth quarter. After another Washington TD threatened the Pats in the game’s final minutes, Stevenson carried for another score to put New England up for good.

The Patriots are back in action next Thursday in Philly against the Eagles, while WFT goes back home to host the Bengals next Friday.