FOXBORO — Undrafted rookie outside linebacker Elijah Ponder has been a late riser for the Patriots this season.

The rookie free agent, who came to the Patriots out of Cal Poly, has three sacks in his last four games. Ponder has seen his playing time increase since the Patriots traded Keion White to the 49ers in October, and he’s made the most of those opportunities with sacks against the Buccaneers, Jets and Giants.

Ponder has 10 total pressures, including seven hurries, this season.

This summer, he was called “probably one of the best (undrafted) free agent pickups” that Patriots outside linebackers coach Mike Smith had seen.

Ponder’s 8.7 pass-rush productivity — a metric devised by PFF — ranks second among 19 qualified rookie edge rushers this season.

The 6-foot-3, 261-pound defende

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