Based on Thursday night’s action, you wouldn’t know Demaryius Thomas tore his Achilles nine months ago. The longtime Denver Broncos wide receiver recently came off the Physically Unable to Perform list and made a great first impression during his Patriots debut. The 31-year old recorded seven receptions for 87 yards and two touchdowns and, most importantly, looked healthy and comfortable while on the field.
Demaryius Thomas Could Be Big Part of New England Patriots Offense
Nobody had high expectations for Demaryius Thomas when the Patriots signed him back in April. The nine-year NFL veteran tore his Achilles in Week 16 and faced a difficult rehab. Achilles injuries are notoriously difficult, especially for players on the wrong side of 30. Nobody knew if Thomas had anything left, and most expected him to start the season on the Physically Unable to Perform list. He’s obviously ahead of schedule in his recovery, which is great news for the Patriots.
Last we saw Thomas, he was still a solid NFL starter. While he’s not longer a 100-catch and 1,000-yard player, he was still productive while playing with subpar quarterbacking. The Patriots won’t get 2013 Demaryius Thomas, but getting the 2018 version is still within the realm of possibility.
Based on one week of film, Demaryius Thomas is healthy and ready for the regular season. Looking at stats can be deceiving, as Thomas was going up against a bunch of backups who might not have jobs in a week. However, the film doesn’t lie, and Thomas proved he could still play at an NFL level.
Demaryius Thomas Film Study
Based on Thursday’s action, Demaryius Thomas is still capable of running routes, working the sideline, and taking hits over the middle. While all preseason action comes with a grain of salt, Thomas’ skills should translate into the regular season. Thomas is a player who wins thanks to his size and ball skills, and he showed he still has the ability to play that brand of football.
Thomas’ first touchdown came on a patented fade down the sideline. Rookie quarterback Jarrett Stidham threw a nice pass while Thomas held his position on the sideline, waited until the last second to show his hands, and brought in the pass. On a different play, Thomas made a quick stop on the sideline to gain some separation along the sideline. Stidham’s pass was late, and Thomas had to wait an extra second for the ball to get there. He knew he was going to take some contact yet still held onto the ball and recorded a reception.
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Thomas proved to be more than just a perimeter threat. New England loves to work the middle of the field, and Thomas showed the ability to make tough catches over the middle. Early in the game, Stidham found Thomas in tight coverage to move the chains. Thomas fought through an uncalled defensive hold and had a linebacker coming from the side and still managed to hold on to the ball.
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This wasn’t a case of Thomas taking advantage of the inferior talent. Demaryius Thomas proved he’s recovered from his Achilles injury and is ready to take the field for meaningful action. Now, we just need to figure out how the Patriots will utilize their big-bodied receiver.
How the Patriots Will Use Thomas
Julian Edelman is the unquestioned starter, but Demaryius Thomas could earn the second starting spot. First-round rookie N’Keal Harry is battling an injury and might not be ready for the start of the season. Even if he is, Harry missed too much time to immediately start.
This leaves Thomas and Josh Gordon fighting for the Week One starting spot. Gordon has experience in the system, which obviously gives him the inside track. However, Gordon looked rustier than Thomas during Week Four’s action. While he made a few nice plays, he had an ugly drop and a few other moments where he could have made plays on the ball. Gordon hasn’t played meaningful football since Week 15, so he’s just as rusty as Thomas. If Thomas is further along, the Patriots could easily start Thomas over Gordon in the short term.
Even if Thomas isn’t playing over Gordon, he should still see the field on a regular basis. The Patriots don’t have Rob Gronkowski, which means they’ll be running a lot of three-receiver sets. Trying to stop Gordon, Thomas, and Edelman is just unfair, especially when Tom Brady is throwing the ball. Demaryius Thomas can still play, and he has a pretty easy path to the field. Don’t be surprised when Thomas turns into the latest diamond in the rough signing by the New England Patriots.
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