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New England Patriots

New England Patriots

New England Patriots

We now know why Demario Douglas was limited late in training camp

Author Alex Barth
New England Patriots wide receiver Demario Douglas (81) catches a pass during a joint practice with the Green Bay Packers on Aug. 16, 2023, in Ashwaubenon, Wis. (Sarah Kloepping/USA TODAY Network-Wisconsin)

Patriots rookie sixth-round wide receiver Demario ‘Pop’ Douglas has had quite the roller coaster of a summer. His usage has stood out throughout the process, and is unique for a Patriots’ rookie wideout.

Douglas was one of the stars of training camp early on, and quickly ascended to getting reps with the projected starters. The hype around him increased when he only played sparingly in the Patriots’ first two preseason games – a rarity for a late-round Patriots rookie. All signs pointed to the team being as high on him internally as fans and media were externally.

READ MORE:

—Patriots bolster tackle depth with Sunday morning trade
— Will Bill Belichick keep two kickers?
— Roster projection 4.0

However, Douglas became even more limited since the Packers game, tipping that optimism towards concern. He didn’t take part in team drills in practice last week, then didn’t play in the preseason finale. At Sunday’s practice – the first since that game, he was in a red non-contact jersey. Thanks to a new report, we now know why the team has been cautious with him.

Following Sunday’s practice, ESPN’s Mike Reiss shared that Douglas is dealing with “a minor shoulder injury.” That injury occurred on a tackle during the Packers game.

The question now becomes whether or not Douglas will be ready for Week 1. Coming away from the preseason he projects as the Patriots fourth receiver behind JuJu Smith-Schuster, Kendrick Bourne, and DeVante Parker.

Douglas isn’t the only Patriots receiver dealing with a shoulder injury. Tyquan Thornton hasn’t been in uniform since the second joint practice with the Packers, when he landed hard after making a diving catch. Reiss noted in his Sunday notes that Thornton “is a candidate” to be placed on IR once the initial roster is set.

Tracking Patriots roster cuts…

2023 New England Patriots roster cut-down tracker

This tracker is from the weekend before the New England Patriots made their final roster cuts. Click here for the most recent tracker.

The busiest time for NFL transactions has arrived. With the 2023 preseason wrapped up, it’s on to roster building week.

This ‘building’ process actually starts with subtraction. By 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday, all NFL teams have to trim their 90-man rosters to 53 players. This is a different format from recent years, when cuts happened gradually over the span of the preseason with separate cutdown days to 85 and 80 players.

Once the cuts are made and that Tuesday deadline passes, the roster building continues. For one, it is when teams can start making waiver claims and re-signing their own players or adding other teams players to their practice squads..

The Tuesday 4:00 deadline is also important when it comes to managing injured reserve. For players to be eligible to return from IR, they first must make the initial 53-man roster. Any player placed on IR before that time is out for the season. Once that deadline passes, players can be placed on IR, re-opening roster spots for new signings or practice squad elevations.

Speaking of injury lists, this is also an important period for players on PUP or NFI. If not activated by the deadline, PUP players automatically miss the first four weeks of the season, with the timeline for NFI players being six weeks.

With so much going on, we’ll be tracking all of the Patriots’ moves across these categories here over the next couple of days, as well as big moves around the NFL. Here’s a running list of what’s happening…

  • Patriots getting OT Calvin Anderson back

    At tackle, it’s been more about who the Patriots are adding rather than subtracting. They’re about to get reinforcements back at the premium position, with Calvin Anderson expected to be activated off the non-football injury list, as reported by Field Yates.

  • The latest on Malik Cunningham

    It looks like Malik Cunningham’s roster decision will come down to the wire. Cunningham, a UDFA out of Louisville who has worked at quarterback, receiver, and on special teams this summer, projected squarely on the bubble coming in. There’s also some question as to whether or not the Patriots could get him to the practice squad.

    Cunningham is the only UDFA left currently on the Patriots’ roster. The Patriots have had at least one UDFA make the initial or Week 1 roster 19 years in a row. For it to continue this year it’s down to the only two remaining UDFAs on the roster – Cunningham and wide receiver Thyrick Pitts.

  • Setting the value for kickers

    With Nick Folk’s status up in the air, and a kicker shortage around the NFL, the question of Folk’s value in a trade has come up often leading up to roster cuts. The Browns and Chargers have now helped set the market. with Los Angeles sending kicker Dustin Hopkins to Cleveland for a 2025 seventh-round pick. Folk should be worth more than Hopkins – who only played in four games last year – but a late-Day 3 pick is still probably what’s in play.

  • One quarterback down

    In another expected cut, the Patriots have released veteran quarterback Trace McSorley. McSorley rarely repped in practice and saw minimal playing time in preseason games after the first week of the preseason.

  • Punter battle decided

    The Patriots have released punter Corliss Waitman in their first move of the day on Monday. That means rookie sixth-round pick Bryce Baringer has won the punter battle in camp. Still, Waitman is a “strong candidate to return to the practice squad” per Christopher Price of the Boston Globe.

  • Another trade, another tackle

    The Patriots ended Sunday the same way they began it – trading for a tackle. They acquired Vederian Lowe from the Minnesota Vikings for a sixth-round pick. We highlighted Lowe as a potential Patriots draft fit last spring here and here.

  • Another round of cuts

    ESPN’s Mike Reiss confirmed another round of cuts late Sunday afternoon. He also added the team having waived running back C.J. Marable, defensive back Rodney Randle, offensive lineman Micah Vanterpool, and tight end Scotty Washington. Reiss also added linebacker Diego Fagot was waived with an injury designation.

  • Another UDFA cut

    The Patriots are moving on from another member of this year’s UDFA class with the release of Justus Tavai, the brother of linebacker Jahlani Tavi. After a strong performance in the preseason finale, Justus could be in line for a practice squad spot next week.

  • Three more moves for the Patriots

    Just prior to practice, Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald reported that the Patriots have waived tight end Johnny Lumpkin, linebacker Diego Fagot, and safety Brad Hawkins. All three were considered longshots to make the roster, but are candidates to return on the practice squad (Hawkins spent time on the Patriots’ practice squad last year).

  • Clues from practice

    The Patriots held practice on Sunday afternoon. In addition to those who have already been reported as cut, a number of other players projected to be on the bubble or off the roster entirely were not in attendance. That group includes…

    –RB CJ Marable
    –TE Scotty Washington
    –TE Johnny Lumpkin
    –IOL Kody Russey
    –OT Conor McDermott
    –OL Micah Vanterpool
    –DL Justus Tavai
    –LB Diego Fagot
    –LB Ronnie Perkins
    –CB Isaiah Bolden
    –S Brad Hawkins
    –DB Rodney Randle

  • A trade!

    Leading up to roster cuts it felt like the Patriots needed to add more tackle depth externally, and they’ve now done that via trade. The Patriots are sending running back Pierre Strong to the Cleveland Browns, in return for offensive tackle Tyrone Wheatley Jr.

    (Full details here)

  • Recent signing release

    To start off Sunday, the Patriots released linebacker Carson Wells. Wells was signed by the Patriots on Aug. 15.

  • Two moves down

    In their second move of Saturday night, the Patriots released defensive back Quandre Mosley. Mosley first signed with the Patriots’ practice squad late last season, then remained with the team on a futures deal. He was viewed as a longshot to make the roster.

  • Patriots get started with surprise cut

    The Patriots’ first cut of this window came Saturday night, and was a bit of a surprise. Defensive tackle Carl Davis, who has played in 36 games and made seven starts for the Patriots over the last three years, was released. This came after Davis played late into the final preseason game. Without Davis, the Patriots’ early-down nose tackle group consists of Davon Godchaux, Jeremiah Pharms, and UDFA Justus Tavai.

    (Full details here)

Alex Barth is a writer and digital producer for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Thoughts? Comments? Questions? Looking for a podcast guest? Let him know on Twitter @RealAlexBarth or via email at [email protected].

Alex Barth is a digital content producer and on-air host for 98.5 The Sports Hub. Barth grew up in the Boston area and began covering both the New England Patriots, Boston Celtics, and Boston Red Sox in 2017 before joining the Hub in 2020. He now covers all things Boston Sports for 985TheSportsHub.com as well as appearing on air. Alex writes about all New England sports, as well as college football. You can follow him across all social media platforms at @RealAlexBarth.

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