Josh Gordon’s return complicates Phillip Dorsett’s status with team

Last time Josh Gordon joined the New England Patriots, receiver Phillip Dorsett was not a direct beneficiary. To the contrary, Dorsett moved down the depth chart, and was on the field far less as Gordon took an increased role, ultimately landing with Julian Edelman as a starter.

Gordon is back with the Patriots after serving an indefinite suspension. And it’s easy to imagine his presence having the same effect on Dorsett. At the very least, Gordon will push Dorsett down a crowded depth chart, which includes Edelman, N’Keal Harry, Jakobi Meyers, Maurice Harris and Braxton Berrios, among others. Cameron Meredith (PUP, knee) and Demaryius Thomas (PUP, Achilles) may be in the mix, too, if they can get healthy.

Dorsett, meanwhile, maintained a positive philosophy.

“I’m not a guy who is trying to prove other people wrong,” Dorsett told reporters, via the Boston Herald. “I try to prove to myself that I’m capable of what I know I can do. That’s the only thing that I really worry about. I couldn’t care less about what everybody else says or what everybody else says about me. What you can do is prove what you can do on the field, and that’s the only thing I really focus on.”

Dorsett managed to hold onto a roster spot in 2018 when Gordon arrived. And there’s a good chance Dorsett can do the same, though the return of Thomas and Meredith could further complicate his standing with the team. But it’s clear Dorsett has taken a bigger leadership role in 2019 by tutoring many of the receivers who are new to New England’s offensive system. He was also a positive influence on Gordon in 2018, even though Gordon essentially took Dorsett’s job.

Even with Gordon in the building, Bill Belichick praised Dorsett on Monday.

“He knows the offense, he knows all of the positions, and he’s been able to play in a number of critical situations for us through the years – either due to injury or game plan, whatever the circumstances were – so I think he’s been a solid player,” Belichick said. “Great kid. He works hard, does everything we ask him to do.”