FOXBOROUGH -- The Patriots defense has yet to officially allow a touchdown this season, yet in the points allowed column there's the No. 17.
That is because of Gunner Olszewski's muffed punt Sunday against the Jets that was recovered in the end zone for the first score of the game, and then backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham throwing a pick-6. Besides that, the defense has allowed just a field goal through three games.
Speaking after the game Sunday, Olszewski was quite hard on himself.
"It is unacceptable," he said. "There is no excuse for it."
Unlike some past rookies to make the same mistake, Olszewski was back deep for the next punt and he also stood at his locker to take the questions afterwards.
"They told me I needed to pick my head up because there is more game to play and just don't let it happen again," he said.
With the injury to Julian Edelman and not many other players on the roster with punt return experience, it would appear his job is safe.
"You have to go back out there and do your job," Olszewski said. "They put me back there because they trust me and I just want to show them that they can trust me in any situation, not just when I am returning. I want them to know I can catch the ball."
Matthew Slater and the rest of his teammates have his back.
"Keep his head up, we all support him," Slater said when asked what the message to the rookie was. "We know what type of kid he is and everyone in this locker room has a lot of faith and confidence in him. Those kinds of mistakes happen. No one knows more about muffing balls and returns than I do, so stay positive. We support him."
