Dorsett on possibly returning punts: 'If they ask me to do it, I'll do it'

FOXBOROUGH — Phillip Dorsett sounded like a man willing to do whatever it took to impress his new team on Tuesday. And that includes the possibility of returning punts.

The 5-foot-10, 183-pounder, who was acquired from the Colts over the weekend in a deal that sent quarterback Jacoby Brissett to Indy, has a limited background when it comes to working as a punt returner, having two returns on his professional resume with the Colts. That’s on top of 25 returns he had as a collegian at Miami.

But with Julian Edelman and Cyrus Jones lost for the season, and the team perhaps hesitant to risk Danny Amendola in that role, the job could very well fall to the 24-year-old Dorsett. He seems cool with the idea.

“Whatever they’re going to ask me to do, I’m willing to do,” he shrugged when asked about the possibility of returning punts for his team. “If they ask me to do it, I’m willing to do it.

“It’s been great. I did a little bit of it at Miami and a little bit with the Colts. I’ve never really been the primary when it comes to it,” he added. “But whatever they want me to do, I’ll do.”

Dorsett, who said Tuesday he likes to practice catching punts “just for fun,” had his best special teams year as a sophomore at Miami, when he had 15 returns for 85 yards, an average of 5,7 yards per return. Not overwhelming numbers, but certainly enough to include him in the conversation here as to who might take over for Edelman and Jones.

Of course, the possibility of working as a returner is just one part of his anticipated gig with his new team. He’s trying to get up to speed as fast as possible when it comes to the offense as well. Dorsett, who said he wasn’t that surprised about the trade — he said he had heard “rumors” — has been doing what he can to pick up the offense.

“I wouldn’t say (it’s been) overwhelming. I think I’m a pretty smart guy,” he said. “Of course, they throw a lot at your first, but I’m just in it. You have to be in it. Like you said, I just go back to the hotel and study as much as I can until I get tired. And then, I try to study more. At the end of the day, I think it’ll be worth it.”