FOXBOROUGH - The Patriots are bracing for life without Romeo Doubs, and Mike Vrabel isn’t offering much hope for a quick turnaround.
Doubs was placed on injured reserve after hurting his shoulder in Sunday’s home win over the Jets, which means he’ll miss at least the next four games. Even with the bye week coming in late November, Vrabel made it clear on Wednesday that New England isn’t working with a firm return date for the wide receiver.
“The expectation is that he’ll work hard and get treatment,” Vrabel said. “But to say I know exactly when he’ll be back, I don’t think that’s fair to anybody. I think Rome was continuing to build confidence and ended up being a huge play in the football game, to make that play, the X play.
“It’s just unfortunate. I think he was just continuing to grow and develop. We’ll have to figure things out without him here for a little while, and I’m not sure how long that’ll be.”
Doubs got hurt on his touchdown catch against New York, taking a hard landing on his shoulder after diving into the end zone for a Drake Maye pass. He did not return. His day ended with one catch, a 42-yard touchdown.
In six games this season, Doubs has 14 receptions for 261 yards and three scores.
His injury is another hit to a Patriots receiving group that has already been thinned by IR moves. Doubs becomes the third New England wideout to land there this season, joining A.J. Brown in Week 1 and Mack Hollins in Week 4.
The Patriots go into Thursday night’s game against the Bears with only four wide receivers on the 53-man roster: A.J. Brown, DeMario Douglas, Efton Chism, and Kyle Williams.
New England is also dealing with issues up front. Vrabel said both left guard Alijah Vera-Tucker and right guard Ben Brown “probably” won’t be available for the game at Soldier Field.
There is at least some optimism at right tackle, where Morgan Moses has a chance to play after leaving Sunday’s win over the Jets with an ankle injury.
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