Pats Pulpit
Patience has been a virtue for DeMario Douglas five weeks into his third NFL season.
After being on the field for 62% of offensive snaps in 2024, his playtime decreased to just a third of the New England Patriots’ offensive snaps in 2025. His production went the same way: from an average of 3.9 catches and 36.5 yards per game all the way down to 1.4 and 6.0, respectively.
Formerly a crucial part of the Patriots’ receiver corps, Douglas was seemingly being phased out. Then came Sunday’s Week 6 game against the New Orleans Saints.
While the officials did take away one of his big plays on an erroneous pass interference call, the 24-year-old still managed to leave his mark on New England’s 25-19 victory. He finished the game with three catches for 71 yards, including a 53-yard touchdown.
It was Douglas’ best performance of the season, and a potential turning point.
“I felt like I needed this,” he admitted after the game. “It it feels good. It feels good to win and play for the team.”
While still only playing 25% of snaps versus the Saints as New England’s fourth option at his position behind Kayshon Boutte, Stefon Diggs and Mack Hollins, Douglas managed to give his team some early momentum. His 53-yard score capped the Patriots’ first drive of the day, while he nearly ended the second as well before said penalty erased a 61-yard TD.
Even with that play not counting, Douglas was a more active participant again. And according to the man himself, that was by design.
“Coach coach told me, ‘I’m going to call it. I’m going to call it early,’” Douglas said about his touchdown. “In practice, it was hitting. And then, my boy [Brenden Schooler] told me, ‘I ain’t going to lie, that play is going to work.‘ Got in that end zone.”
For head coach Mike Vrabel, Douglas’ performance is not the first time he has managed to positively contribute to the Patriots offense. A lot of those previous contributions, however, flew under the radar — something that is true for other members of the unit as well.
“Some days it’s like, ‘Well, this guy only played this or he didn’t have any snaps.’ But there’s a lot of things that go into an offense that a lot of us aren’t going to see or show up,” Vrabel explained. “Some of the dirty work and some of the clear-out routes, or guys finishing on the third level to help guys gain some extra yards. It’s just a testament to these guys that understand, ‘I’m going to get my opportunity, I’m going to make the most of it.’ We need as many of those guys as we can possibly can in all three phases.”
On Sunday, Douglas was that guy.
While he admitted that his reduction in playing time this season has been a challenge, he also claimed to have learned some lessons along the way. Among them: remaining patient and focused on...
