The legend of Patriots rookie wide receiver Demario Douglas will only grow after Thursday night’s preseason opener.
After two weeks of impressive play at training camp, the 5-foot-8, 192-pound receiver barely played against the Houston Texans. Douglas started the game but logged just two offensive snaps. He also played one special teams snap, fair catching a punt.
In the preseason, a lack of playing time can be a good thing.
“We look at the whole body of work here,” Belichick said. “There are a lot of guys who didn’t get a whole lot of reps last night. That’s because most of them got a lot of reps in the practice sessions, more reps in the practice session. I’d say most of the players who played last night have gotten fewer reps in practice sessions. It’s kind of a balance, and the guys that practice less play more and some of the guys who have practiced more played less. Trying to get an evaluation and look at everybody.”
There was a list of 21 Patriots players who were seemingly healthy but didn’t play on Thursday night: quarterback Mac Jones, running back Rhamondre Stevenson, wide receivers DeVante Parker, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Kendrick Bourne, tight ends Hunter Henry and Mike Gesicki, offensive tackle Riley Reiff, center David Andrews, defensive linemen Christian Barmore, Deatrich Wise, Davon Godchaux and Lawrence Guy, edge defenders Matthew Judon and linebacker Josh Uche, Ja’Whaun Bentley, cornerback Marcus Jones, safeties Jabrill Peppers, Adrian Phillips and Kyle Dugger, and special teamer Matthew Slater. Most of those players are either established veterans or entrenched starters.
Douglas is a rookie sixth-round pick, but he’s risen up the depth chart since the spring, and the reason he’s practiced so much is because he’s earned those opportunities through his performance.
Wide receiver Tre Nixon, who’s fighting for a roster spot, led all wide receivers with 49 snaps. Rookie sixth-round pick Kayshon Boutte played 32 snaps, Raleigh Webb was on the field for 25 snaps, Thryick Pitts played 19 snaps and 2022 second-round pick Tyquan Thornton saw action on 14 plays. Undrafted rookie Malik Cunningham primarily played quarterback on the Patriots’ final drive but also was in at wide receiver on a handful of his 26 offensive snaps.
Douglas has made a habit out of beating Patriots defensive backs in 1-on-1 drills, using his quickness to gain easy separation. He’s been a favorite target of backup quarterback Bailey Zappe but also increased his targets from starter Mac Jones in the past week.
The Patriots were high on Douglas’ potential even coming into training camp.
The 22-year-old caught 79 passes for 993 yards with six touchdowns in his final season at Liberty, adding five carries for 105 yards with a touchdown as a ball carrier. He returned two punts for touchdowns in his four-year college career.
Thornton, who seemingly entered camp above Douglas on the receiving pecking order, did miss some practice time since camp broke in late July. He led the Patriots with 31 receiving yards on two catches Thursday night. Nixon led the team with four catches on six targets, picking up 23 yards.