Mike Vrabel just said what Patriots fans have hoped for about DeMario Douglas

The excitement around the Patriots' receiving corps was apparent throughout the offseason, with Stefon Diggs leading the charge after Mike Vrabel and Co. chose to sign him in free agency. Beyond the veteran, though, it looked like two returning players, Kayshon Boutte and DeMario Douglas, were well on their way to having a breakout year, but one of them fell behind early on.

Despite becoming an integral part of the offense since he was drafted in 2023, Douglas was noticeably absent from the offensive game plan through the first half of the year. It prompted many questions about his future with the team, especially since the belief was that he would thrive under a Josh McDaniels offense, as he is known for using smaller slot receivers.

But that wasn't the case with Douglas until recently, which has been a welcome sight for the Patriots team and their fans. He has exploded over the last few games and seemingly rewritten his 2025 season as a result.

DeMario Douglas has carved out a specific role for himself on the Patriots offense that they must use more

After another explosive game this past Sunday against the Falcons —one that was particularly meaningful for Douglas due to his uncle's unexpected passing the night before, Mike Vrabel made it clear they're planning to incorporate him more moving forward.

Considering he's become somewhat of a secret weapon for Drake Maye to work with over the past month, this seems like a solid plan.

Over the past three weeks, Douglas has given the Patriots some of their most explosive plays, especially in their win against the Saints. If it weren't for a phantom penalty, he would've had two 40+ yard receiving touchdowns, a feat he has never accomplished in his NFL career.

His rise has continued in the games since then, and if Josh McDaniels plans to continue using him more and more each week, then they're bound to have even more big-time plays in their game plan.

They'll need that kind of performance with some tough opponents coming up on the schedule, with the Bucs being the first one on the docket.