Mac Jones' first career touchdown pass put the Patriots up 10-7 just before halftime.? Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

Watch: Patriots rookie QB Mac Jones throws first career TD pass vs. Dolphins

By Erin Walsh | Last updated 9/12/21

The Mac Jones era in New England is in full swing.

The Patriots rookie quarterback tossed his first career NFL touchdown pass in the second quarter of Sunday's game against the Miami Dolphins, hitting Nelson Agholor for the score.

Mac Jones throws it for his first NFL TD

(via @NFLBrasil)pic.twitter.com/JaJBprmNr2
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 12, 2021

Jones' first career touchdown pass put the Patriots up 10-7 just before halftime.

The Patriots selected Jones 15th overall in the 2021 NFL Draft and named him their starting quarterback earlier this month after releasing veteran signal-caller Cam Newton.

The rookie played his college football at Alabama, leading the franchise to a national title in 2020. He had high expectations entering the 2021 campaign.

During the preseason, the 23-year-old went 36-of-52 for 389 yards, with one touchdown and no interceptions. According to Pro Football Focus, he had the highest-graded preseason by a rookie quarterback since 2013.

Highest-graded preseasons by rookie QBs in PFF Preseason Era (2013)

1️⃣ Mac Jones, 2021 - 92.2
2️⃣ Patrick Mahomes, 2017 - 91.8 pic.twitter.com/EKOkFIFLRN
— PFF (@PFF) August 31, 2021