Dolphins WR Caleb Douglas has breakout next up - the Pats - ESPN

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — It's been a while since Caleb Douglas was on the sideline.

The Miami Dolphins rookie wide receiver, who played all 27 possible games at Texas Tech over his final two collegiate seasons, would have to go back to his two years at Florida to find an extended period of time when he did not play.

So when he missed three games this season with an ankle injury, it was new territory for him.

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«It's not easy,» Dolphins coach Jeff Hafley said last week. «For some people, it might be easy. For some people, it's a challenge. There are some guys that can learn by watching; there are some people that actually have to learn by doing. So I think it's different with every player.

»Ultimately, the more you can actually do it, the timing, the rhythm, getting comfortable back with the quarterback, but mentally, he has stayed sharp because he's been pretty efficient in practice. But again, you're talking about a rookie who hasn't played much football."

Douglas returned in the Dolphins' win over the New York Jets in Week 7, finishing with 70 yards and two touchdowns on two catches. His highlight play came on a 63-yard catch-and-run touchdown in the fourth quarter that effectively put the game out of reach.

But the third-round draft pick caught Hafley's attention with his work outside of his two scores, mainly the cleanliness of his procedural work despite the extended absence, and his effort in the run game.

«Those are the things that you worry about, right?» Hafley said. «We didn't have any of those