New England Patriots wide receiver DeMario Douglas hasn't been fully unleashed during this training camp, as he's been dealing with a hand injury that's forced him into a red non-contact jersey through the first two weeks.
On Friday, Douglas surprised those in attendance by donning a normal white practice jersey to start the session, but he quickly switched to a red jersey after it started. The second-year wide receiver explained the situation to reporters on Saturday.
“I tried to come out in the white jersey, but they’re like, ‘Nah.’ It’s all for the good, though,” Douglas said with a smile (via. The Boston Herald).
Douglas told reporters earlier in the week that the hand injury is just a minor tweak, and the non-contact jersey is more of a precaution than anything else.
“But I feel like it’s for a greater good,” Douglas said. “I’m happy to be out there. I’m out there. So, that jersey isn’t stopping me from anything.”
The 23-year-old was a bright spot on a gross offense in 2023, recording 49 receptions for 561 yards in his rookie campaign. If he can remain healthy and build on that, he could be the Patriots' top option at the position when the season rolls around.
