Tag: Gunner Olszewski

Gunner Olszewski was the spark the Patriots needed to keep their playoff hopes alive

A tremendous performance. Could Gunner break out?

Gunner Olszewski had a career day as the New England Patriots defeated the Los Angeles Chargers, 45-0, on Sunday afternoon.

He scored twice in the victory, returning a punt for 70 yards and catching a 38-yard touchdown pass. He almost had a third touchdown, as he returned a punt 61 yards. Thankfully for the Chargers, punter Ty Long knocked Olszewski out of bounds at the 17-yard line.

Coming into this game, Olszewski had not scored a receiving touchdown in his career, and he had not returned a kickoff for a touchdown in his career. He almost did it last week against the Cardinals, but it was called back because of a penalty. Bill Belichick was quick to note Olszewski wasn’t exactly carrying the special teams unit.

“Happy for Gunner,” Belichick said after the game.” But you know, he got a lot of help on those plays, as well. He did a good job on finishing the runs and making some guys miss. But, you know, if we can just get those returns started. [DB] Justin [Bethel], [DB Jonathan Jones], [WR Matthew] Slater, [DB] Cody [Davis], those guys did a good job of getting him started and he did a good job of finishing the plays.

“So yeah, happy for him. His career is not the classic way of an NFL career, given where he came from. But yeah, happy for the success that they’ve had. Gunner’s worked extremely hard and overcome a lot. He’s not a big guy, but he has a big heart and he plays hard.”

He had his fingerprints all over this game, and it was encouraging to see as New England has desperately needed a spark in the passing and return game. In a year where the organization has struggled moving the football at times, the additional energy Olszewski brought on special teams was notable.

For a player that is utilized primarily as a special teams player,  his impact was absolutely monstrous. He gave New England good field position, and he put together a strong body of work.

He returned three punts for 145 yards.  He has 179 return yards this year. He had 97 all of last year. He is finding his role this year, and he is making it work. That was evident on Sunday.

As New England gets set to take on the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday, it will be interesting to see if Olszewski will continue to have a huge role. His breakout game on Sunday could lead to something special. As it stands right now, he was a huge reason why New England had as much success as they did against the Chargers.

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Gunner Olszewski revealed what he was thinking after his first TD, and it was hilarious

What a game from Olszewski.

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New England Patriots receiver Gunner Olszewski did just about everything except play defense on Sunday during his team’s 45-0 win over the Los Angeles Chargers. He returned punts, covered kicks, and, most important, scored touchdowns.

Olszewski managed a punt return for a 70-yard touchdown on Sunday afternoon against L.A. As much as Olszewski managed to read his blockers well, his big return was definitely a product of strong work from his teammates, who cleared a big path for him. Even Bill Belichick made sure to note that after the game. All Olszewski had to do was make the punter miss.

And then he was in the end zone. What was his first thought after that touchdown, his first in the NFL?

“I have to go cover a kick,” he told reporters after the game.

That is very on-brand for Olszewski, who made the 53-man roster in 2019 as an undrafted rookie after playing four positions (cornerback, receiver, kick returner, punt returner) in the final preseason game. Olszewski, a converted DII cornerback, also managed a 38-yard touchdown reception when Jarrett Stidham and other backups entered the game. Olszewski admitted that was probably his first offensive touchdown — ever.

Immediately after that touchdown, Olszewski had to cover yet another kick — and he logged his first tackle of the day. Not bad.

Olszewski’s funny quotes and big plays are turning him into a fan favorite in New England.

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Watch: Patriots score two special-teams touchdowns against Chargers

The Patriots scored a pair of special-teams touchdown in the first half against the Chargers

The Los Angeles Chargers’ special teams have been awful. The woes continued on Sunday as a punt was returned for a touchdown by the New England Patriots, who also took a blocked field goal all the way to the house on the last play of the half to make it 28-0.

First, the punt return.

Gunner returned a punt 70 yards for a TD to make it 14-0 in the second quarter.

After the Patriots added another score, the Chargers tried to salvage something before halftime.

Michael Badgley, who had already missed a field goal, was sent out for a 58-yard attempt.

It was blocked, of course, and Devin McCourty returned it 44 yards for a touchdown that made it 28-0 at the break after the PAT.

First Half Highlights: Chargers vs. Patriots

The Los Angeles Chargers have had no answer.

The Chargers currently trail the Patriots at the halfway mark, 28-0.

Los Angeles has had no answer to New England’s rushing attack, as they’ve allowed 127 yards on the ground and two touchdowns, both by quarterback Cam Newton.

Even after the coordinator change, the special teams woes continue. Gunner Olszewski took a punt return to the house for 70 yards. Right before the half, kicker Michael Badgley’s field goal attempt was blocked and taken the crib.

Meanwhile, quarterback Justin Herbert has had a quiet game, completing only nine of his 20 passes for 85 yards. On the ground, the Chargers have only amassed 20 yards.

A positive thus far is that rookie linebacker Kenneth Murray picked up his first professional sack.

Here’s a look at Gunner Olszewski’s electrifying punt return touchdown

Gunner Olszewski came up with a big-punt return on Sunday.

As the Patriots look to record their second win in a row, they jumped out to an early 14-0 lead. One of the touchdowns came courtesy of a Gunner Olszewski return that electrified the team.

With the help of a series of good blocks, assess he was able to use his speed to streak down the right side of the sideline and take it to the house for the score. For the Patriots, that was their first part return touchdown since the 2014 season.

Olszewski has found his niche on special-teams returns this season, and he proved that on Sunday.

As the Patriots have had their struggles on offense this season, that return could prove to be big throughout the course of the game.

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Patriots WR Gunner Olszewski ‘extremely pumped’ to be back with the team

The second-year receiver continues to write his own story.

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Gunner Olszewski has one of the most unlikely stories out of players on the New England Patriots’ roster.

He was an undrafted D-II cornerback that made a splash in the Patriots’ training camp last season and landed himself a spot on the 53-man roster as a wide receiver. Olszewski handled punt return responsibilities and brought a special energy to the team. His time on the field was limited after playing eight games and ending early on the injured reserve list in 2019.

Olszewski has rehabbed over the offseason and made his first appearance in Week 4 against the Kansas City Chiefs. He’s looking to carve a role as a receiver, while holding down his role in special teams.

“I’m extremely pumped to be back,” Olszewski said on Thursday, transcribed by WEEI. “It was a tough go at it missing the first three weeks but the guys in the rehab and helped me out and got me back on the field but it’s so fun to be out there. I’ve missed quite a few games in my time here but I’m good now and I’m just looking forward to staying good and keep doing my part.”

Olszewski has one catch for 11 yards, as he’s content with playing the role behind Julian Edelman, N’Keal Harry and Damiere Byrd.

“You know, just whatever they need from me,” he said when asked about his role. “I just want to be there for whatever happens, if someone goes down, I step up and whatever happens happens.”

Bill Belichick talked up the second-year receiver and detailed his progress.

“I think he’s certainly improved, both physically and in terms of his rehab and conditioning, which started last year when he went on injured reserve during the season,” Belichick said. “And then as a player with a year of experience, even though it wasn’t a full year of on-the-field experience, his experience in the system and in the league I think gave him a big jump in terms of what he needed to do personally from a training standpoint, from a technique and skills improvement and also just knowing how the rest of the league is – what to anticipate in terms of coverages, kicking situations and so forth.

“He’s definitely a much better player and a much more experienced and aware player than he was last year, and I think that’s shown up in the course of camp and in the game that he played in last week. So, it’s good to have him back and hopefully he’ll be able to make an explosive play for us along the way here.”

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Patriots put Sony Michel on IR, remove Damien Harris, Gunner Olszewski from IR

The Patriots made several moves ahead of Monday night’s game against Kansas City.

Ahead of Monday night’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs, the New England Patriots have made a couple of transactions. Receiver Gunner Olszewski and running back Damien Harris have been promoted from injured reserve, while running back Sony Michel and Cody Davis have been placed on IR.

Olszewski has played in several roles or New England, mostly as a punt returner and wide receiver. He has two receptions with 34 yards to his name, and 179 return yards in two seasons with New England.

Harris has recorded 12 total rushing yards in his National Football League career. He will be eligible to play on Monday night.

For Michel, he has been a decent producer for New England in the running game this season. The former Georgia star has recorded 26 carries for 173 yards and a touchdown the season. He is coming off a nine-rush, 117-yard performance against Las Vegas last week.

It will be interesting to see what Harris in particular can do and how much of a role he  will have in the running game on Monday night.  The Patriots have always instilled a next- man-up type of mentality. That adage will never ring truer than on Monday night.

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Damien Harris, Gunner Olszewski return to Patriots practice off IR

Big news for New England.

The New England Patriots running back Damien Harris and receiver Gunner Olszewski were back at practice on Wednesday after spending three weeks off the field on injured reserve, according to reporters on the scene. They can be activated to the 53-man roster at any point in the next 21 days. They can play as soon as Sunday in Week 4 action against the Kansas City Chiefs.

That wasn’t the only good news for New England: running back James White, who missed two games after losing his father in a car crash, returned to practice.

Safety Cody Davis, who left Week 3 with an undisclosed injury, was not present for practice. Defensive tackle Beau Allen and tackle Yodny Cajuste were not present either. They started the season on injured reserve, and are eligible to return in 2020.

New England plays the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 4 at 4:25 p.m. at Arrowhead Stadium.

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Gunner Olszewski absent, 3 Patriots starters return to practice

A pair of offensive linemen were back on the field.

The New England Patriots saw three starters return to practice on Thursday, with offensive linemen Isaiah Wynn and David Andrews and cornerback JC Jackson taking the field. Wynn and Andrews had been absent for two practices.

The players who were absent are as follows: receiver Gunner Olszewski, running back Damien Harris, linebacker Scoota Harris, defensive tackle Michael Barnett, defensive tackle Nick Thurman, defensive tackle Beau Allen and outside linebacker Tashawn Bower. Olszewski, who has enjoyed a tremendous training camp, was absent for the first time.

New England will trim down to 53-man on their active roster on Saturday before putting together their 16-man expanded practice squad on Sunday. They will open their season against the Miami Dolphins on Sept. 13.

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Julian Edelman gave Gunner Olszewski a surprising piece of advice about making the Patriots

Edelman gave Olszewski a funny piece of advice on Sunday.

As New England Patriots training camp continues on, one player has been making a very good impression. Gunner Olszewski has been turning heads so far over the course of training camp.

Julian Edelman gave Olszewski  a piece of advice as training camp progresses. Olszewski recorded two catches for 34 yards last season. He also proved to be effective returning kicks, totaling 179 return yards. Now, he is watching his stock rise as the Patriots look for additional depth.

You would think that a player like Olszewski would want to follow what Edelman does. After all, the latter has enjoyed a successful career, and has been a key component of the offense . However,  the Kent State product does not want Olszewski to follow his lead.

“When I first got here, I wanted to be just like the Patriots greats like Troy Brown or Julian, but I learned quick that everybody moves differently and some stuff works for other people that don’t for other people,” Olszewski told reporters on Sunday. “Some advice that Jules gave me last year, he was like, ‘don’t do what I do. You’ll find your way. You’ll figure out what works for you.’ … Obviously, I see stuff that he does or other guys on our team like Mo Sanu does and I try to take bits and pieces.

“For the most part everybody is different with how they move so it’s just figuring it out for yourself a little bit.”

It will be interesting to see if Olszewski’s stock will continue to rise over the course of training camp. If he follows even a little bit of what Edelman does, he should be okay.

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