Patriots Activate WR Kendrick Bourne, S Marte Mapu

The Patriots will be dealing with a number of injuries along the offensive line moving forward, but the team’s receiving corps is set to receive a boost. Kendrick Bourne is set to be activated from the PUP list, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

The move will allow Bourne to make his season debut during tomorrow’s game against the Dolphins. The 29-year-old returned to practice earlier this week (when first eligible), so it comes as no surprise he will be back in the fold tomorrow. Expectations will be in place for him to handle a notable workload early and often once on the field.

Bourne’s 73% snap share from last season was not only the highest of his Patriots tenure but also his career. He was limited to only eight games due to an ACL tear, an injury which halted an encouraging campaign. The ailment was not serious enough to dissuade New England from committing to a new three-year, $19.5MM contract, however. Bourne’s return will provide the Patriots with another pass-catching option, something which will be welcomed given their struggles on offense.

New England ranks 31st in the NFL in scoring and last in passing yardage. The timing of when rookie Drake Maye will take over at quarterback remains a key storyline surrounding the team, but for now Jacoby Brissett is atop the depth chart. Adding Bourne (who averaged a personal best 50.8 yards per game and scored four touchdowns last year) to the mix will provide a starting-caliber option alongside Demario Douglas, K.J. Osborn and Ja’Lynn Polk in a receiver room which may not include Tyquan Thornton for much longer.

The Patriots are also expected to activate safety Marte Mapu from injured reserve, as first reported by KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson. That move is now official, along with Bourne’s activation. Mapu entered the league with the versatility to play at middle linebacker, but the 2023 third-rounder saw time in the secondary during his rookie campaign in addition to a special teams workload. Designated for return from IR before roster cutdowns, the 24-year-old returned to practice on Wednesday, signaling his pending activation.

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