After a year playing catch-up, WR Phillip Dorsett now prepared for big opportunity

FOXBOROUGH — Phillip Dorsett is ready. At least, a lot more than he was at this time last year.

The receiver was dealt from Indy to the Patriots on Sept, 1, 2017. Six days later, he was on the field with New England in the season opener against the Chiefs. It left him playing catch-up all year.

Now, a year later and with a full offseason under his belt, he’s a lot more confident in what he can accomplish in the Patriots’ offense.

“Night and day,” he told BostonSportsJournal.com Sunday when asked to compare his state of mind and comfort level now with what it was like a year ago. “From a comfort level and knowing the playbook. It’s just different. It’s crazy to actually think where I came from and where I started and where I am now.”


Dorsett grew into a complementary role in the New England offense, and finished the year with 12 catches for 194 yards. While the Patriots remain a game-plan, week-to-week sort of team, it was hard not to notice the fact Dorsett grew within the framework of the offense: In Week One against Kansas City, he played just 18 snaps. In the regular-season finale, he logged 45 snaps.

“Things started to click for me last year during the season,” he said. “Obviously, I didn’t get as many reps, but mentally, I started to understand everything. Everything started slowing down, and I just put my head down this offseason and started grinding with OTAs and stuff like that. It was clicking. I just felt a lot more comfortable.”

“Phillip certainly did a good job of coming in here and trying to embrace his role on the team. His role last year was that of trying to be a multiple position receiver,” said wide receivers coach Chad O’Shea. “Phillip learned it all last year (and) he did a nice job of it. I think he’s continued to progress as far as … Phillip can do a lot of different things for us. He’s not just locked into a certain position or certain role. He’s a multiple position player, and we’ll use him to his strengths.”

Final cuts left the Patriots with just three full-time receivers, two of whom (Dorsett and Chris Hogan) have any sort of game experience with Tom Brady. While there’s always the possibility of a trade or personnel pickup between now and kickoff next Sunday (just look at what happened to Dorsett last year), for his part, Dorsett doesn’t sound worried about the lack of depth at the position.

“I’m definitely confident with what we have in that room,” Dorsett said. “I remember last year there were games last year where we went in with three receivers, too. We have a lot of guys, a lot of people who can make plays on this team. Not just receivers. The tight ends. The running backs.

“We just have to put our head down and keep grinding.”