New England Patriots wide receiver Romeo Doub during a team practice in May at Gillette Stadium. Mark Stockwell/Boston Herald
New England Patriots wide receiver Romeo Doub during a team practice in May at Gillette Stadium. Mark Stockwell/Boston Herald
FOXBORO — The Patriots’ decision to sign Romeo Doubs to a four-year contract this offseason is looking smarter by the week.
Doubs is set to be quarterback Drake Maye’s top target in Week 5 against the Raiders, with A.J. Brown on injured reserve with a high ankle sprain and Mack Hollins nursing a calf injury.
The 26-year-old wideout has improved every week since a rough debut, when he went catchless and dropped a pass in a Week 1 loss to the Seahawks. Doubs now has 12 catches for 203 yards with two touchdowns — both coming in Week 4 against the Bills — through four weeks.
“Yeah, a consistency. It wasn’t easy to have his first game come with a disappointing rep that maybe got a little bit blown out of proportion because of the result of the game and in the moment of the game,” Patriots wide receivers coach Todd Downing said Thursday. “But for him to be able to bounce back and kind of reset emotionally, and then be consistent with his work habits, that’s why he’s enjoying some of the successes he’s having now.”
Doubs earned a $68 million contract, coming over from the Packers, this offseason. Doubs, DeMario Douglas, Efton Chism and Kyle Williams are the Patriots’ only fully healthy wide receivers. He should play his biggest role of the young season Sunday against the Raiders.
Get to know Doubs better on and off the field in the latest installment of our New Patriots series.
Q: What’s your first football memory?
A: Catching a go ball in Pop Warner.
Q: How old were you?
A: I might have been like 7. Yeah, bro. I was introduced to the game very early on, and I mean that’s pretty much the start of football for me.
Q: What’s your top high school football memory?
A: Eight-touchdown game (at Jefferson High School in Los Angeles).
New England Patriots wide receiver Romeo Doubs makes a catch at a practice during training camp. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald)
New England Patriots wide receiver Romeo Doubs makes a catch at a practice during training camp. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald)
Q: Wow, eight touchdowns?
A: Yeah. I mean, I played in a conference that wasn’t as competitive, so I’ll be honest about that. But yeah, it was a high-scoring game on our end, and yeah.
Q: Top college football memory?
A: Probably just my first ever touch. It was a punt return for a touchdown (against Portland State).
Q: What made Nevada special for you?
A: It was my first scholarship offer coming out of high school, so I stayed as loyal as possible to them. And I was fortunate enough to play all four years there and grow.
Q: What would you be doing if you weren’t a football player?
A: I don’t even know.
Q: Who was your favorite athlete growing up?
A: Kobe (Bryant).
Q: Do you have a favorite movie?
A: Favorite movie? No. I gotta think about that.
Q: Favorite musical artist?
I don’t even know. I listen to a lot of Kendrick (Lamar). I listen a lot of Jermaine Cole. I listen to some ’80s R&B. It just depends on the thing, man.
Q: Who have you been closest with on the team so far?
A: Everybody.
Q: Who’s the funniest player on the team?
A: We got my man’s right here (DeMario Douglas).
Q: What do you like the most about just the New England region so far?
Just the culture. It’s a very blue-collar life. Yeah. And yeah, just a great organization to be in.
Q: Is there a player across the league you feel like is underrated or underappreciated?
A: Everybody.
New England Patriots wide receiver Romeo Doubs stretches during a recent practice. Matt Stone/Boston Herald
New England Patriots wide receiver Romeo Doubs stretches during a recent practice. Matt Stone/Boston Herald
Q: Do you have a hidden talent?
A: No.
Q: Is there a topic you know more about than anyone else on the team?
A: Oh, that’s a really good question. I would say probably maybe just human genetics.
Q: Was that like your college major?
A: No, it was not.
Q: What do you know about human genetics?
A: I don’t know, man. It’s just, there’s power to it. And I will leave that very disclosed.