New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel stood up for veteran wide receiver Romeo Dobbs after his disappointing performance against the Seattle Seahawks in last week's season opener.
Doubs finished the game with zero receptions on three targets. One of those targets was a wide-open pass from quarterback Drake Maye that would have been a major first-down conversion late in the game.
Maye threw an interception after the dropped pass.
Doubs' struggles are even more glaring considering that the team signed him to a four-year, $68 million deal in free agency. The team will also be playing without star wide receiver A.J. Brown for the foreseeable future after he was placed on injured reserve with a high ankle sprain.
"He dropped a pass," Vrabel told media
members, via Patriots Wire's Sophie Weller. "Everybody drops a pass, everybody misses a tackle... did a lot of great things during camp, just like everybody did. so I know he's excited to get back out there."
Mike Vrabel on Romeo Doubs:
— Sophie Weller (@sophieewellerr) September 14, 2026
"He dropped a pass. Everybody drops a pass, everybody misses a tackle... did a lot of great things during cam, just like everybody did. so I know he's excited to get back out there."
It's important to keep in mind that Doubs didn't play during the preseason, and it was only the first week of the regular season. He will have an opportunity to contribute to change the narrative by stepping up as Maye's No. 1 option with Brown out.
A potential bounce-back game lies on the horizon with the Pittsburgh Steelers next on the schedule in Week 2.
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This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: Mike Vrabel's honest reaction to Patriots WR Romeo Doubs' dropped pass
