But now Jerod Mayo and company might not even trust Baker to do that.
The fourth-round pick was pulled off kick return after he received the first two kickoffs in New England’s 28-22 loss to the Los Angeles Rams at Gillette Stadium on Sunday.
“On the kick returns, he was back there on the first couple snaps and he didn’t execute the way we all had hoped he would,” Mayo said of Baker during a conference call Monday morning.
Baker returned the two kickoffs for 62 yards, including a 46-yard return on the game’s opening play. It set up the Patriots in favorable field position, but Mayo took issue with Baker’s hesitance.
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“I know it was a big return, even on that big return it was one of those situations, ‘Is he coming out? Is he not coming out?’” Mayo said. “And same thing with the second kickoff return.”
Baker muffed the second kickoff before he recovered it. His nonchalant effort thereafter went for a 16-yard return and set the Patriots up at their 20-yard line. A fair catch, which was in play for Baker, would’ve given the Patriots an additional 10 yards of field position.
Patriots kick returners accepted fair catches on each kickoff after that.
Baker was limited to five offensive snaps against the Rams. The Central Florida product now has played 19 offensive snaps in six games this season with four inactive designations.
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Baker told NESN.com entering Week 11 he felt his behind-the-scenes development was going well.
“Everything’s good,” Baker said last Wednesday. “I’m just playing my role. This is my role right now so I’ll play it.”
A special teams demotion, however, would make it even more difficult to see the field.
