The New England Patriots played the first game of their 2023 season on Thursday night, hosting the Houston Texans at Gillette Stadium. While the game was only a preseason contest and has therefore no impact on the standings, it still gave us some insight into how the team views its current roster.
One player who stands out in that regard was rookie wide receiver Demario Douglas. The sixth-round draft pick is in the middle of an impressive summer, and appears to be well on his way toward the 53-man roster. His usage on Thursday night can be seen as further proof of that: he ended up laying just two offensive snaps, a result of the heavy workload he has been getting in practice — and a sign that his spot on the team can indeed be considered safe at the moment.