In Week 4 in Miami, Fletcher was active for the first time, but the majority of his snaps came on special teams, save for a handful of late-game defensive reps as the Patriots closed out a 41-14 victory.
But Sunday against the Ravens, Fletcher made his most significant impact on defense. He was added to a third-down package in the second half that included three down linemen, three linebackers and five defensive backs.
Then, during the Patriots' final defensive series of the fourth quarter, Fletcher stopped shifty Ravens running back Ray Rice over the middle of the field, a tackle -- Fletcher's lone stop of the season -- that saved Rice from running wild and potentially setting up the Ravens for a game-winning score.
"It's a great opportunity when they throw a package together and tell me to get in there and do your job," Fletcher said. "I feel like I did a pretty good job. I just hope they keep that in mind in the future."
Fletcher, who played defensive end at Montana State, knew he had been closing in on some legitimate game action, so he was proud to come through in a key situation. Already this season, Fletcher has seen young guys like cornerback Kyle Arrington, linebacker Jermaine Cunningham and running back Danny Woodhead come through and turn smaller roles into bigger ones, so Fletcher has noticed the blueprint and has something tangible to build from.
