With the regular season approaching, it was finally time for Patriots rookies who made the active roster to be given their official jersey numbers.
Bill Belichick has become known in recent years for having first-year players don either random or less-than-desirable numbers prior to the start of the season. It was a practice that once had rookie running back Sony Michel (the team’s 2018 first-round pick) wear a very unorthodox No. 51 in OTAs.
In 2023, the practice was toned down slightly during preseason. Rookie wide receivers Kayshon Boutte and Demario Douglas ended up with No.