Patriots huge receiver Kendrick Bourne tore his proper ACL in Sunday’s loss at Miami and can miss the remainder of the season, in accordance with a supply.
There is hope Bourne may recuperate in time for the beginning of coaching camp subsequent summer season, although not essentially with the Patriots. He is scheduled to hit unrestricted free company this spring.
The 28-year-old obtained harm on a sideline deal with after he caught a go early in Sunday’s fourth quarter. Bourne is the Patriots’ main receiver in all main classes, with 37 catches for 406 yards and 4 touchdowns. He’s additionally logged 73% of the staff’s offensive snaps via eight video games, highest among the many receivers.
Bourne was having fun with a rebound season after making important modifications to his offseason routine and weight-reduction plan. He had already surpassed his season complete for catches final yr (35) and was monitoring for profession highs in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns. Patriots coach Bill Belichick praised Bourne’s manufacturing and persistently as not too long ago as two weeks in the past throughout a radio interview on WEEI.
“Yeah, KB’s done a good job for us all year, not just yesterday,” Belichick mentioned after the Patriots’ loss at Las Vegas. “Getting open, with the ball in his hands, after the catch. He’s shown some good run skills and the ball security’s been much better this year.”
Bourne can be thought to be one of the vital energetic gamers within the staff’s locker room. He is certainly one of a number of starters the Patriots have misplaced to damage this season, together with Pro Bowl outdoors linebacker Matt Judon and rookie cornerback Christian Gonzalez. Without him, the Pats’ receiver depth is all the way down to DeVante Parker, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Demario Douglas, Jalen Reagor, Tyquan Thornton and rookie Kayshon Boutte.
Parker suffered a head damage in Sunday’s recreation and didn’t return, whereas Smith-Schuster returned from a two-game absence to seek out himself fifth on the depth chart. He has 89 yards complete on the season. Douglas, a sixth-round rookie, is now the Pats’ main wholesome receiver with 222 yards.
Reagor has only one catch in 4 recreation appearances. Thornton was a wholesome scratch Sunday, and Boutte hasn’t taken any snaps for the reason that season opener. They have eight and 0 yards, respectively, on the season.
Bourne ought to quickly on injured reserve, which can create an open roster spot.
Source: www.bostonherald.com