The New England Patriots placed wide receiver Romeo Doubs on injured reserve on Oct. 20 after a shoulder injury in Sunday’s home win over the New York Jets, according to Boston.com.
The move came after Doubs had 14 catches for 261 yards and three touchdowns through six weeks, according to Boston.com.
Doubs suffered the injury while making a 42-yard touchdown catch from quarterback Drake Maye against New York and did not return to the game, Boston.com reported. Patriots coach Mike Vrabel said New England is not setting a timeline for a potential return this season.
Romeo Doubs injury puts Patriots receiver on injured reserve
The 42-yard touchdown was Doubs’ final play against the Jets, according to Boston.com. The Patriots placed him on injured reserve two days after the home victory, changing the status of a receiver who had been one of the team’s most productive targets through the opening six weeks.
Boston.com reported Doubs’ six-week production at 14 receptions, 261 receiving yards and three touchdowns. Those numbers put his average at 18.6 yards per reception, a calculation based on the reported catches and yardage.
Doubs is the third Patriots wide receiver to land on injured reserve this season, according to Boston.com. A.J. Brown was the first, followed by Mack Hollins. The three injured-reserve placements leave Doubs, Brown and Hollins among the receivers whose statuses shape New England’s personnel picture.
Mike Vrabel sets no timetable for Doubs’ return
Vrabel said the Patriots expect Doubs to work and receive treatment while recovering from the shoulder injury. The coach declined to identify a date for the receiver’s return.
“The expectation is that he’ll work hard and get treatment,” Vrabel said, according to Boston.com. “But to say I know exactly when he’ll be back, I don’t think that’s fair to anybody.”
Vrabel also said the Patriots would have to adjust without Doubs for a period of time. His comments left the receiver’s return timeline open while establishing that the team’s immediate focus is Doubs’ work and treatment.
The coach’s comments followed a productive start for Doubs in New England. Boston.com reported that his 14 catches, 261 yards and three touchdowns came through the first six weeks of the season, before the shoulder injury interrupted his season.
Patriots wide receiver depth before the Bears game
Boston.com listed four wide receivers on the Patriots’ 53-man roster entering the game against the Chicago Bears: A.J. Brown, DeMario Douglas, Efton Chism and Kyle Williams.
Brown was also identified by Boston.com as the first Patriots wide receiver placed on injured reserve this season, while Hollins was identified as the second. Doubs became the third after the shoulder injury against New York. The roster listing therefore includes Brown alongside Douglas, Chism and Williams, while Brown’s injured-reserve status remains part of the team’s receiver context.
Douglas, Chism and Williams are the other names in the four-receiver group Boston.com identified before the Chicago matchup. Doubs’ absence removes the player who had produced 261 yards and three touchdowns through six weeks, while Brown and Hollins were already part of the injured-reserve count.
Doubs’ connection with Maye also supplied one of New England’s notable offensive plays against the Jets. The receiver caught a 42-yard touchdown pass from the quarterback before leaving the game with the shoulder injury, according to Boston.com.
Other Patriots injuries affecting the Chicago matchup
Vrabel said offensive linemen Alijah Vera-Tucker and Ben Brown probably would not be cleared to play against Chicago. The coach provided those updates while discussing the Patriots’ personnel situation for the upcoming game.
Vrabel gave Morgan Moses a more favorable status, saying the right tackle had a chance to play despite an ankle injury suffered during the win over the Jets. That update adds another offensive-line decision for New England before the Bears matchup.
The Patriots’ next game is against the Chicago Bears. Doubs is on injured reserve, while Vrabel said Vera-Tucker and Ben Brown probably would not be cleared and Moses had a chance to play despite his ankle injury.
