New England Patriots

Morning sports update: Demaryius Thomas says he feels ‘better’ now than before Achilles injury

"The program we’ve been doing here has helped out a lot, so I feel great."

Demaryius Thomas touchdown
Demaryius Thomas makes a touchdown catch for the Patriots in the preseason finale against the Giants. AP Photo/Steven Senne

By Hayden Bird

4 minutes to read

In the final preseason test for both teams before the regular season, the Patriots lost to the Giants 31-29 on the last play of the game. The most notable moment might have been Tom Brady’s sideline balancing act.

The Red Sox begin a three-game series against the Angels tonight at Angel Stadium at 10:07 p.m.

And the Revolution host Toronto FC at Gillette Stadium on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in a crucial Eastern Conference matchup with playoff implications.

What Demaryius Thomas had to say after catching two touchdowns: In his preseason and Patriots debut, wide receiver Demaryius Thomas had a big night. He caught 7-of-8 targets for 87 yards and two touchdowns.

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https://twitter.com/Patriots/status/1167232318739664896

Thomas is returning to the field following an Achilles rupture that ended his 2018 season. The 31-year-old has been working his way back, and appears to be ready for the regular season.

After the game, he said that despite his injury, he feels stronger than before.

“I actually feel a lot better now,” Thomas told reporters. “Before the injury, I was a little smaller. But I’m a little heavier, a little stronger. The program we’ve been doing here has helped out a lot, so I feel great.”

Asked if he’s past the point of having a mental block regarding his Achilles, Thomas said he only knows how to play at one speed.

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“I just go out and play,” Thomas explained. “If I’m going to get hurt, I’m going to get hurt, but I’m going to be full speed getting hurt. My Achilles is great. I’m going to do whatever I can to play my best ball. I’m not going to think about anything, I’m not going to have it in the back of my head, because usually when I have it in the back of my head, I don’t play my best. So, I’m just going to give my best, and if I get hurt, I just get hurt.”

The game showed a glimpse of what the Patriots’ passing game could have in the 2019 season with Thomas lining up alongside Josh Gordon and Julian Edelman. Along with depth in the running game, it presents an optimistic picture for New England fans.

Asked about the offense’s potential, Thomas didn’t want to get carried away.

“Well, first off, I want to be a part of it for sure,” Thomas said. “Just being around, watching the guys work, watching the guys week-in and week-out, from Detroit to Tennessee, we’ve got a lot of potential. But there are a lot of guys around the league that I feel like are going after the Patriots, because I know when I was on other teams, we were going after them. We might look good on the roster, but we’ve got to go out every week and get better and better every week. So, if I can be a part of that, I’ll be happy.”

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One thing that Thomas is still acclimating to is playing for the Patriots, and not against them. As a longtime member of the rival Broncos, the 6-foot-3 receiver admitted it was a little strange to put on a Patriots jersey.

“You know, kind of,” Thomas responded. “I played a while on opposite teams. Beginning of the season, the first team I’d look at is the Patriots and see who they’re playing, and come playoff time, see what position they are. Now to be a part of it, it feels great.”

Trivia: If Carli Lloyd ever became an NFL kicker, should wouldn’t have a hard time eclipsing the low standards set by an array of her predecessors. Since 1990, 27 NFL kickers who have attempted at least 10 field goals in a season have had an accuracy of 60 percent or less. One Patriots kicker is included in this group. Can you name him?

(Answer at the bottom).

Hint: He lost his job to Matt Bahr.

More from Boston.com:

What Bill Belichick had to say about the Patriots’ offensive line

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Bruce Arena’s thoughts on the Revolution competing for a playoff spot: Speaking in an interview with 98.5 The Sports Hub’s “Zolak & Bertrand” on Thursday, Revolution coach Bruce Arena discussed the team’s turnaround since he arrived in May, and the expectations for the rest of the season. Specifically, he agreed with the idea that New England should be competing for a playoff spot.

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“I think when I first came in if I said something like that then everyone would laugh at me,” Arena added. “But we have really battled and moved up the ladder and now we’re positioned to be a playoff team. So, we might as well transfer the pressure back on us again and say, ‘yeah, we’re a team that should make the playoffs.'”

The Champions League draw happened yesterday. Group F, with Barcelona at its head, looks to be the most difficult:

On this day: In 1997, the Houston Comets defeated the New York Liberty 65-51 in the inaugural WNBA championship.

Daily highlight: Minnesota’s Rashod Bateman hauled in a one-handed catch in a 28-21 win over South Dakota State on Thursday.

Bonus: 360 for the win.

Trivia answer: Scott Sisson