WATCH: Patriots Intercept Texans' Rookie QB C.J. Stroud

The New England Patriots open the preseason with a matchup against the Houston Texans at Gillette Stadium.

FOXBORO — Following the retirement of longtime team captain Devin McCourty, many wondered who might step up at the safety position for the New England Patriots. 

Defensive back Jalen Mills made a significant point in his case on the first defensive series of New England’s preseason opener against the Houston Texans on Thursday night at Gillette Stadium. 

On third-and-21 from the Houston 35-yard line, Texans rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud was rudely welcomed to the NFL when Mills jumped the pass intended for Houston receiver Tank Dell. 

.@greengoblin on the moveeeeee!!

📺: @wbzsports pic.twitter.com/stlkdFB9eZ

— New England Patriots (@Patriots) August 10, 2023

New England capitalized on the turnover, as kicker Nick Folk hit a 44-yard field goal to give the Pats an early 3-0 lead. 

Mills is apparently in the midst of a positional change from cornerback to safety. A hamstring injury sidelined Mills for one game last season, while a groin injury forced him to miss the final six games of the campaign. Still, Mills was able to log 31 tackles, five pass break-ups and intercept two passes. In the process, he held opposing quarterbacks to completing only 27-of-45 for 333 yards when targeting him.  

For Mills, it will be a return to a a role which yielded his best statistical season. As a member of the Philadelphia Eagles in 2020, he accounted for 74 combined tackles , 1.5 sacks and an interception while aligning mostly at box or free safety.

It marks just the second time that the two teams have met in a preseason game. The two teams first met in a preseason game in August 2017 at Houston, a 27-23 Texans victory. The Patriots and Texans also met at the Texans' preseason training facility in West Virginia for a few days of joint practices prior to the game.

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