Jakobi Meyers bounces back amid learning experience in dress rehearsal for Patriots

Despite a poor start to Week 3 of the preseason, Patriots WR Jakobi Meyers didn't let the learning experience stop him from finishing strong and growing in the moment.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - Jakobi Meyers was bound to have a bad day, and that day finally came. Well, sort of; it was more like a bad start. During the New England Patriots' 10-3 win over the Carolina Panthers in Week 3 of the preseason, Meyers was part of the reason for a slow start for the offense. 

On a day when New England's first-team offense played a quarter and a half of football, a holding call that brought back a Sony Michel 30-yard run, a dropped pass and a miscommunication which led to a ball sailing over his head that he didn't see coming from Tom Brady prevented Jakobi Meyers and the offense from firing on all cylinders. 

Meyers finally displayed something he hasn't really shown since camp and preseason begun: a misstep. 

You could characterize it as the N.C. State product regressing simply because he finally played against some of the top level talent in the NFL, as he got to run with New England's first team offense which faced the Panthers' first-team defense. 

But Meyers doesn't view it that way. 

He saw it as an opportunity to learn from his veteran QB and build upon his already strong preseason which has led to him being a lock for the 53-man roster with one week of exhibition games still to go. That's why after sitting next to Brady on the bench in the first half and hearing what the six-time Super Bowl champion had to say, Meyers then went out and took a step forward by finishing the game with seven receptions for 74 yards on 12 targets. 

"Tom (Brady) has played for a long time, so if he wants to sit down and talk, you give him an open ear," Meyers said during postgame. 

The rookie is right. If Brady is taking the time to sit down with him during a game, it's because it matters to the 42-year-old quarterback that they are on point with how they think on the field. Meyers' chemistry with Brady has been evident in camp practice, but they have yet to show it in a live game. That's why getting it right before the regular season begins is so important. 

Meyers knows he has to right his wrongs now, especially as an un-drafted rookie, in order to gain Brady's trust, and more importantly, to stay on the team. 

"Definitely, because I want to put my best foot forward every day, especially as an un-drafted rookie," Meyers said. "But all I can do now is learn from the tape now and get better and not think about it too long."

There won't be anymore opportunities to earn game reps with Brady until the regular season begins. But what Meyers does in practice between now and Week 1 vs. the Pittsburgh Steelers will ultimately decide how much of an impact he will have in an offense that will have Julian Edelman, Josh Gordon, Demaryius Thomas and N'Keal Harry returning for the season opener.

Meyers has already overcome tremendous adversity as a former college QB, so clicking with Brady will just be the next hurdle in his adventure. Luckily for him, Brady is embracing the learning experience along with him so they can get in sync sooner rather than later.