Jacoby Brissett reacts to Douglas’ frustration over lack of touches

The Patriots have not done much in terms of getting their wide receivers involved on offense. DeMario Douglas vented those frustrations on Monday.

After two weeks, Douglas has only reeled two catches for 12 yards, and was not targeted at all during Sunday’s overtime loss to the Seahawks. While tight end Hunter Henry reeled in 109 receiving yards in that game, Patriots receivers ]totaled three catches for 19 yards in the defeat at Gillette Stadium. 

Douglas, who was one of the few bright spots on New England’s offense as a rookie in 2023, admitted during Monday’s media availability that his lack of touches has been difficult to work through out of the gate. 

“Last year, not yet this year,” Douglas said when asked if he feels like he’s been able to showcase his skills in 2024. 

Speaking on WEEI’s “Afternoon Show” on Monday, Patriots quarterback Jacoby Brissett was asked about Douglas’ comments and the dearth of production from New England’s wideouts so far in 2024. 

“I’m glad he’s frustrated. If he wasn’t, that would be more alarming than him not getting the ball to be honest to you,” Brissett said. Y”ou Just explain it to him, you’re going to have those games where it happens like that.

“It’s the second game of the year. We’re still trying to figure out our identity and how this thing is going to play out as far as the offense. It’s a long season ahead,” the starting QB went on. “I told him, man, there’s 15 games left … it’s a lot of football ahead of us. Obviously, we’re still getting better as a whole, individually, as an offense. I’m glad he’s frustrated, but I’ll see how he uses the frustration the right way.”

Several factors have limited New England’s offense from generating consistent plays down the field. A porous O-line has been the primary culprit, with Brissett given limited time to step up in the pocket and make plays — and wideouts handed little rope as far as getting separation against defensive backs.

Mayo acknowledged Monday that frustrations in the locker room are growing.

“All of those guys in that locker room want to play football. All of those guys in the locker room want to help this team win, and if they’re not frustrated, then that’s an even bigger problem,” he said. “Frustrations — every single week someone’s going to be frustrated. 

“Every single week you’re going to have to put more on one side of the ball or more on one individual than the other just based on matchups alone. If you’re not frustrated, that to me just says a lot.”

Offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt and the rest of the Patriots’ coaching staff might be limited in terms of their schemes and systems given the team’s pass-protection woes. Still, a player with Douglas’ evident talent needs to be utilized as a dependable target entering Thursday’s primetime game against the Jets. 

“Obviously, he’s a dynamic player. And me as the quarterback, I have to find ways to get him the ball. But it’s definitely something that we’re looking at,” Brissett said of Douglas. “I don’t want to get into the overreaction thing about why this or that is not happening. It’s the second game of the season. But, we gotta find ways to get him the ball. He’s that good of a player.

“Honestly, we gotta find ways to get a lot of our skill players the ball, and get them more involved in the game. So yeah, I gotta take responsibility for that.”