After starting the year on the reserve/PUP list, Patriots wide receiver Kendrick Bourne will soon be back on the field. Coach Jerod Mayo confirmed to reporters today that the veteran wide receiver is expected to start practicing on Wednesday, per Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald.
Bourne hasn’t played since Week 8 of last season after suffering a season-ending ACL tear. The wideout was having one of his strongest campaigns prior to his injury, averaging a career-high 50.8 yards per game. Despite his uncertain status heading into the 2024 campaign, the Patriots were comfortable enough handing the veteran a three-year extension this offseason.
After inking a three-year, $15MM deal with New England ahead of the 2021 campaign, Bourne often found himself with an inconsistent role. He had a standout first season with the Patriots, collecting career-highs in receptions (55), receiving yards (800), and touchdowns (five). While poor QB play was partly to blame for his drop in production in 2022, Bourne got into only 441 offensive snaps, his lowest total since his rookie campaign with the 49ers. Those snaps were back up in 2023, with the wideout getting into 73 percent of his team’s offensive snaps prior to his injury.
While the Patriots will surely welcome back Bourne, his return shouldn’t do a whole lot to remedy a putrid offense. Jacoby Brissett has struggled under center for the Patriots this season, leading to natural calls for rookie Drake Maye to take over. Bourne will be entering an uncertain WR room that’s currently led by the likes of K.J. Osborn, Demario Douglas, and second-round rookie Ja’Lynn Polk. Tyquan Thornton, Kayshon Boutte, and rookie fourth-round pick Javon Baker have generally been the odd men out, and one of those players may be dropped when Bourne is ready to join the active roster.