Roméo Doubs injury: Patriots receive positive update on star WR

Amid a series of roster changes Monday, the New England Patriots also decided to place wide receiver Romeo Doubs on injured reserve. As a result, the off-season signing will be out for at least the next four games.

However, an absence much longer than this is not expected. According to a report from ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Doubs is “hopeful to return after the Week 11 bye” and that the current belief is that his move to IR will not be a “long-term” affair.

Doubs, 26, injured his shoulder during the Patriots’ 26-19 win over the New York Jets on Sunday. He fell hard after catching a 42-yard touchdown on his team’s second offensive snap of the day, then left the contest. Initially deemed questionable, his return was ruled out for the remainder of the game early in the third quarter.

On Monday, he was sent to injured reserve. According to NFL rules, Doubs will therefore not be eligible to begin practicing until after New England’s Week 10 game against the Detroit Lions.

However, the timing is favorable for both the player and the club. With the Patriots off after their transatlantic trip to face the Lions in Germany, Doubs will have an extra week to get up to speed before his team’s next game against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 12.

With Doubs on IR, the Patriots have four receivers remaining on their active roster. AJ Brown, who himself returned from an ankle injury last week and made his return against the Jets, as well as DeMario Douglas, Kyle Williams and Efton Chism. Mack Hollins, who has been on injured reserve since Week 5 with a calf issue, will be eligible to return to practice and the 53-man roster in Week 9.

The Patriots will travel to Chicago this week to take on the Bears on Thursday Night Football.