Patriots back Terrell Jennings celebrates his first career TD during Sunday's win over the Falcons at Gillette Stadium. (AP photo)

FOXBOROUGH,Mass. – Sunday was s a special day for New England Patriot running back Terrell Jennings.

Jennings, signed off the practice squad to help with the running back depth thanks to a recent injury to Rhamondre Stevenson and a season ender to Antonio Gibson, scored his first career NFL touchdown in Sunday’s 24-23 win over the Atlanta Falcons at Gillette Stadium.

But it was special for other reasons. The Patriots had a Salute to Service theme yesterday, and Jennings and others talked about who they selected to honor. And he lost someone, he said, in the last few days that he and teammate Demario “Pop” Douglas were close with. Douglas and Jennings were high school teammates.

“This day was special in a way since it was our salute to service. I celebrated Brett Conway, his life today,” Jennings said. “Last night, I had lost a really close (friend), he wasn’t a family member, but he was a close friend to my family. So, I was just balling for them today, and I can really say it was my team.

“That’s all I could think about with that first touchdown. My team, all the work we put in, they were more excited than me for the touchdown.”

Jennings got the ball on the Patriots final game-clinching possession.

“He’s run hard,” Patriots coach Mike Vrabel said. “He’s run hard in the five-minute. He’s a physical back. … Where Josh (offensive coordinator McDaniels) was going to go with some inside runs there at tha end just get a little bigger back in there.”

“Every week I prepare to be the best player for my team,” Jennings said. “If it is special teams, if it’s running back, if it’s having a conversation with a guy, I want to be the best at it anyways. I want to thank my coaches for putting me in a position to make those plays and be able to be on the field after a touchdown. That’s amazing to me.”

And on the TD?

“I saw the hole,” Jennings said. “As soon as I touched the end zone, I just praised the Lord. I’m thanking God in my head, like, thank you God. This is what I play the game for, to get in the end zone. My teammates being there, that made the whole experience better.”

BOUTTE HURT

There was no word post game on Patriots receiver Kayshon Boutte, who left the game in the first half with a reported hamstring injury. At first, his return was listed as questonable but early in the third quarter Boutte was downgraded to out. Boutte has been New England’s best deep threat with 23 catches for 431 yards and five TDs.

INACTIVES

There were no surprises with Patriots inactives as it was made known running back Stevenson would be out.

Also inactive was safety John Saunders, jr.; linebacker Caleb Murphy, defensive tackle Eric Gregory, and guard Caedan Wallace.

NOTES

Sunday was Douglas’ first career 100-yard game. He had four catches with a 58-yarder as one of them…

The Patriots have streak of nine games this season without allowing a running back to gain 50 yards or more, the only team in the NFL to do this this season. Bijan Robinson was held to 46 yards on 12 carries…

Patriots special teamer Christian Ellis had his third career game with three special teams tackles and has a career high 10…

Next up for the Patriots: at Tampa next Sunday at 1 p.m. No, the game was not flexed by the NFL and stays at 1.