New England Patriots
“He was right here with me right this moment. First day in heaven — he was working.”
FOXBOROUGH — Hours forward of kick-off between the Patriots and Falcons at Gillette Stadium, each DeMario Douglas and Terrell Jennings have been working with heavy hearts.
Douglas and Jennings — who grew up collectively in Jacksonville, competed in opposition to one different in Pop Warner and in the end performed on the identical Mandarin Excessive College group — each obtained phrase that somebody near them had handed away on Saturday evening.
“Yesterday, my uncle was shot and killed final evening,” Douglas mentioned in an interview with NFL Community’s Cameron Wolfe. “This entire morning, my temper was totally different, I couldn’t maintain my tears.
“He was a household good friend. We name him ‘Tiger’. He was an uncle to us — Me and Pop,” Jennings added. “He took care of us once we have been out with him again house. … I simply needed to ball for him.”
Amid their heartache, each Douglas and Jennings confirmed out with standout video games in New England’s 24-23 win over the Falcons — with each Jacksonville merchandise scoring touchdowns within the Patriots’ sixth-straight win.
“He was with us,” Douglas mentioned postgame. “Man, this entire morning was arduous. … As folks got here as much as me I attempted to maintain — I simply tried to be a person. And I simply needed to put my head down, and I simply knew he was with me and he was with Terrell too.”
Jennings — who was signed off the apply squad on Wednesday — stepped up in New England’s running-back room with Rhamondre Stevenson sidelined with a toe harm.
Jennings gained 35 yards off of 11 speeding makes an attempt in Sunday’s win — securing his first profession NFL landing after punching his approach into the top zone on a three-yard run within the second quarter.
“I noticed the opening. As quickly as I touched the top zone, I simply praised the Lord,” Jennings mentioned. “I’m thanking God in my head, like, thanks God. That is what I play the sport for, to get in the long run zone. My teammates being there, that made the entire expertise higher.”
With New England’s receiver corps hampered on Sunday after Kayshon Boutte went down with a hamstring harm, Douglas delivered as one in all Drake Maye’s deep threats.
The shifty wideout set a brand new career-high with 100 receiving yards within the win — reeling in a landing within the first quarter after motioning out the backfield and snagging in a 16-yard catch from Maye.
However Douglas additionally helped orchestrate New England’s third landing of the afternoon, breaking unfastened for a 58-yard pickup within the second quarter the place he gained a majority of his yardage after withstanding a number of tried tackles.
“I keep stumbling. I don’t know what it’s,” Douglas mentioned of his impression of a pinball as he tried to tumble into the top zone.
Simply two performs after Douglas’ catch put New England on the doorstep of one other rating, Stefon Diggs scrambled for an 11-yard landing.
Past the emotional weight of Sunday’s recreation after his uncle’s loss of life, Douglas was additional fueled by the sight of seeing a longtime good friend like Jennings lastly get rewarded with a landing.
Past Jennings lengthy street to the NFL as an undrafted participant out of Florida A&M and his standing as a practice-squad common, Jennings additionally dealt with several stretches of homelessness while growing up in Florida.
“He actually bought out of the mud,” Douglas mentioned of Jennings. “Like, man. And when he bought in that finish zone, I ain’t gonna lie, if I used to be mic’d up they usually had the digicam on me? I used to be on the market. … It’s simply — to see what he went by means of, and what he achieved, and all of the doubt that he went by means of. Man, it’s a blessing to see him right here.
“I inform him every single day, it’s a blessing. It’s a blessing to be right here. When he was a fourth-string operating again, he had his doubts. He’s like, ‘Man, what’s happening?’ I’m like, ‘Belief the method.’”
That religion that Douglas echoed to Jennings was one born out of Douglas’ personal expertise in New England. Regardless of being a featured wideout over his first two years in Foxborough, Douglas noticed his snap rely and utilization drop over the primary few weeks of the 2025 season.
However amid these early rising pains adjusting to a brand new offense underneath Josh McDaniels and Mike Vrabel, Douglas has as soon as once more re-established himself as a key cog on this 7-2 Patriots roster.
“For the primary two years — I used to be taking part in so much. And this yr was sort of a bit of decrease,” Douglas defined. “And this was my ‘belief the method.’ And every thing’s gonna work out. And it’s our group.
“Our group is superb. Everyone smiles. Everyone connects with one another. It’s straightforward to be lifted up with this group. Our coaches are available in with power. So that you higher have power too. They don’t love — no vampires. They don’t need no person to empty you. I really like this group, and I can’t wait to see how far we go.”
Amid a day that began with many tears, each Douglas and Jennings have been capable of depart the gridiron relishing of their shared success out on the gridiron.
And additional lifted by the assist of a person who helped them attain their soccer desires.
“He was right here with me right this moment,” Douglas instructed Wolfe. “First day in heaven — he was working.”
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