After getting a game under his belt last Sunday in Vegas, is Tyquan Thornton ready to help the Patriots’ struggling offense?

He may not have a choice.

With the team desperate for any time of speed element, Thornton is pretty much the only guy who can provide it right now. Demario Douglas did return to practice on Tuesday so he could too, while Kayshon Boutte continues to be a mystery.

“It definitely felt good to be back out there with my teammates and compete at a high level,” Thornton said at his locker on Tuesday. “Fighting week in and week out, it definitely felt good.”

Getting back up to NFL speed is no easy task, but Thornton is taking the slow approach, as he has for most of his young Patriots career.

“Just one percent better,” he said when asked how much having that Vegas game out of the way can help him. “Just one game, another week at it, we need to go 1-0.”

Thornton’s had a tough go of it with injuries the first two seasons in the NFL but this injury was particularly frustrating, given that it came while he was making what turned out to be a hell of a catch.

“It definitely was frustrating, but that’s just a time for me to look at myself in the mirror and see the things I need to get better at. Just control what I can control. Just getting stronger, getting better at the things I can do, not physically on the field, but different ways and stuff.”

The time away from the team during his rookie year did help a bit during this injury considering he knew what to expect as far as rehab goes and attacking that mental challenge.

“Yeah, definitely knew what I had to do, what had to be done,” Thornton said. “It’s kind of more mental than anything, you know? Staying locked in, staying in my playbook, staying in great shape and now I’m back up and rolling.”

Thornton is anxious to show he can be a difference maker for this offense that’s one of the worst in the entire league.

“Definitely anxious to be back out here, just so I can make the plays I know I can make when my number gets called. Just being a great teammate for my teammates, that’s all.”

The second half against Vegas showed some flashes of what this offense is capable of when things are going good. Thornton had just one catch for six yards in his first game back, but saw those signs of light for the team.

“Definitely take it in a lot because we see what we can do as an offense,” he said of the second half performance. “It’s just about being more consistent. We know we can do it, we’ve got the players to do it. I believe in this team, so definitely hope to see more of that…I feel good. I feel like we’ve all got a good relationship. I know these guys very well, so it just feels good to be back.”

Like any player, Thornton had trouble watching from afar and is excited to try and bring a new element to the offense. But, he also knows it’s not going to just be all about him. This offense has far more problems than just one or two guys. It’s going to take a full collective effort to get the train back on the tracks.

“I definitely feel like my speed will help. It’s just not about me, it’s about the whole offense, the whole team.”