Following the New England Patriots' loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 15, wide receiver Josh Gordon announced that he would be stepping away from the game of football to work on his mental health.
It was then revealed that Gordon violated the terms of his conditional reinstatement and was suspended indefinitely.
Even with Gordon, the Patriots' receiving corps had been relatively thin this season, especially with tight end Rob Gronkowski looking like a shell of himself.
New England then turned to Phillip Dorsett, whom the team had traded for in September 2017 in a deal that sent quarterback Jacoby Brissett to the Indianapolis Colts.
Dorsett had not done much of anything since arriving in Foxborough, catching just 12 passes for 194 yards last season.
However, since Gordon stepped away, Dorsett has stepped up, particularly in the Divisional Round of the playoffs against the Los Angeles Chargers when he hauled in four receptions for 41 yards and a touchdown.
“I would just say I knew I had to step up,” Dorsett said, according to Zack Cox of NESN. “Because in order for us to be here, somebody had to step up. I knew my opportunity was going to have to come. They were going to call on me, and I just had to step up. And I was prepared for it. I prepared the whole time for it when I wasn’t playing, and at the end of the day, I was ready for it.”
As for his lack of playing time as Patriot overall? Dorsett understands it:
“It is what it is,” Dorsett said. “I couldn’t do anything about (my lack of playing time). That’s just football. Stuff happens. We’re here now, and I wouldn’t sit here and say that we would be here without (Gordon). I don’t know. But at the end of the day, it is what it is. Can’t do anything about it. I just stayed in it, I stayed ready, I prepared like I was a starter, and when they called upon me, I just tried to make a play.”
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