Demario Douglas Provides Health Update After Scary Hit

One of the lone bright spots for the New England Patriots in Week 12 wide receiver Demario Douglas. The rookie consistently made plays all afternoon for his struggling quarterbacks, providing some of the few highlights on an otherwise forgettable day.

Unfortunately, though, Douglas was on the receiving end of a scary hit early in the fourth quarter that knocked him out for the rest of the game. Following the contest, Douglas gave an update on how he's feeling.

Andrew Callahan of the Boston Herald caught up with the wideout after the final whistle. Douglas claimed he doesn't have a concussion and is doing "OK."

Now, Douglas isn't out of the woods yet. He'll surely be monitored over the next few days and could possibly be placed in concussion protocol just to be safe with a head injury at play.

That being said, this is some very encouraging news. Douglas had his head/neck area bent on the punt return attempt that knocked him out of this Week 12 matchup, which immediately prompted fears of the worst.

If Douglas actually does walk away from this play unscathed, then he should have no troubles suiting up in Week 13. While New England is likely dreaming of a top draft pick instead of wins at this point, player development should be a focus down the stretch.

That means getting Douglas even more involved over the final six games of the year. He's been a welcome surpirse after being a sixth-round pick in April, emerging as one of the passing attack's best weapons with 36 receptions and 410 yards across 10 appearances so far.

Of course, Douglas' future also looks bright considering the skills he's flashed as a rookie. That might mean the team decides to protect him at some point with this year already doomed, considering how him making plays in 2024 is much more important than right now.

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