Amid a series of roster moves on Monday, the New England Patriots also decided to place wide receiver Romeo Doubs on injured reserve. As a consequence, the offseason signing will be out for at least the next four games.
The absence being much longer than that, however, is not expected. According to a report by Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, Doubs is “hopeful to return after the Week 11 bye” and that the current belief is that his stint on IR will not be a “long-term” affair.
Doubs, 26, hurt his shoulder during
the Patriots’ 26-19 win over the New York Jets on Sunday. He came down hard after catching a 42-yard touchdown on his team’s second offensive snap of the day, and subsequently exited the contest. Initially deemed questionable to return, he was ruled out for the remainder of the game at the start of the third quarter.
On Monday, he was sent to injured reserve. Per NFL rules, Doubs will therefore not be eligible to start practicing until after New England’s Week 10 game versus the Detroit Lions.
The timing is favorable for player and club alike, though. With the Patriots on a bye coming out of their cross-Atlantic trip to play the Lions in Germany, Doubs will have an extra week to get up to speed before his team’s next game against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 12.
With Doubs on IR, the Patriots have four receivers remaining on their active roster. A.J. Brown, who himself returned from an ankle injury just last week and made his comeback against the Jets, as well as DeMario Douglas, Kyle Williams and Efton Chism. Mack Hollins, who has been on injured reserve since Week 5 with a calf issue, will be eligible to return to practice and the 53-man team in Week 9.
The Patriots will travel to Chicago this week to face the Bears on Thursday Night Football.
