Patriots place star WR Romeo Doubs on IR after shoulder injury; sign Ryan Miller to practice squad

Key points

• Romeo Doubs was placed on injured reserve with a shoulder injury sustained during the Patriots' 26-19 win over the Jets.
• Doubs, who leads the team with 261 receiving yards and three touchdowns, will miss at least four games but is expected to return after the Week 11 bye.
• The Patriots promoted defensive back Elliott Davison to the 53-man roster and signed wide receiver Ryan Miller to the practice squad.
• A.J. Brown returned from an ankle injury but had a limited performance, catching three passes for 27 yards on 10 targets.
• The team faces a short turnaround for their Thursday Night Football game against the Chicago Bears.

Background

This injury follows a period of significant roster instability for the Patriots' receiving corps. In September, A.J. Brown suffered a high-ankle sprain that forced him to miss at least four weeks, leaving Doubs and Mack Hollins as the primary options. Doubs had recently shown improved chemistry with quarterback Drake Maye, scoring two touchdowns in a Week 4 win against the Buffalo Bills. The current injury to Doubs further complicates the receiving depth, especially with Mack Hollins already on injured reserve since Week 5 with a calf issue.

How outlets are covering it

Pats Pulpit and ESPN's Jeremy Fowler emphasize the positive outlook for Doubs, noting that his time on injured reserve is not expected to be long-term and that he is hopeful to return after the Week 11 bye. NBC Sports highlights the immediate impact on the team's receiving depth, noting that Doubs led the team with 261 yards and three touchdowns, and points out A.J. Brown's limited performance in his return. NESN focuses on the immediate roster response, highlighting the signing of Ryan Miller to the practice squad as a potential 'unexpected story' given his recent big-play production with the Miami Dolphins. All sources agree on the core facts of the injury and the roster moves, but differ in their emphasis on the long-term outlook versus the immediate depth concerns.

Why it matters

The loss of Romeo Doubs, the Patriots' leading receiver, significantly impacts the team's offensive flexibility, especially with a short turnaround for their Thursday Night Football game against the Chicago Bears. The team's ability to maintain its passing game and manage the workload of A.J. Brown, who is still recovering from his own injury, will be tested. The quick response with practice squad additions like Ryan Miller indicates the team's urgency to address depth issues and maintain competitive balance in the receiving corps.

What to watch

The Patriots will face the Chicago Bears in a Thursday Night Football game, with limited practice time for any new receivers to learn the offense. The team will monitor Doubs' recovery, with a potential return after the Week 11 bye. The performance of A.J. Brown and the remaining receivers, including DeMario Douglas and Kyle Williams, will be crucial in the short term. The Patriots will also evaluate whether to elevate Ryan Miller or other practice squad players to the active roster as needed.