Julian Edelman explains how the Patriots can move past the offseason distractions
Julian Edelman joins USA TODAY Sports’ Madison Tenenbaum to discuss how Patriots players can help put Mike Vrabel’s offseason behind them and move forward into the new season.
For much of Romeo Doubs’ debut with the New England Patriots, the veteran wide receiver was out of sight.
His long-awaited turn in the spotlight might have left Doubs wanting to slink back to a more anonymous role.
With marquee offseason addition A.J. Brown sidelined for the remainder of the Sept. 9 season opener against the Seattle Seahawks after suffering an ankle injury in the third quarter, Doubs was left to take the mantle as the lead option in the receiving corps. Through three quarters, however, the wideout had yet to record a catch.
Doubs seemed poised to finally get on the board in the fourth quarter on a second-and-14 play when Patriots quarterback Drake Maye rolled to his right and fired a pass downfield to the pass catcher. Though Doubs didn’t have a defender in his vicinity, he couldn’t haul in the throw.
One play later, Maye heaved his second interception of the night when Seahawks safety Julian Love leaped in front of a pass down the seam.
On the ensuing series, the Seahawks seized a 13-10 lead – the team’s first of the game – after a 26-yard Jason Myers field goal capped an eight-play, 39-yard drive.
“I just wasn’t locked in enough. That’s all,” Doubs told reporters after the game, according to Andrew Callahan of the Boston Herald. “Video speaks for itself. And like I said, I’ll be better.”
For the night, Doubs was held without a catch on three targets.
Doubs was also the target on Maye’s first interception of the night, when Seahawks cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett hauled in a tipped deep pass that the quarterback had left too far inside.
Doubs signed a four-year, $68 million contract to join the Patriots in March as a much-needed additional weapon for Maye. Less than three months later, New England acquired Brown from the Philadelphia Eagles, pushing Doubs into the No. 2 role.