90 minutes before Sunday’s matchup against the Bears, the Patriots published their inactive list as they do every game.
K.J. Osborn returned to the lineup after being listed in trade rumors the previous week. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary based on the inactive list. But following the game, something stood out. Kendrick Bourne, the Patriots’ starting Z-receiver who’s been the most reliable option for the team since he landed in Foxborough three years ago, played zero snaps.
Bourne had seen increased opportunities in previous weeks following his return from injury. But the receiver didn’t see the field in New England’s third win of the season.
Following the game, head coach Jerod Mayo explained Bourne’s absence: “We thought that was the best thing to do, to give us the best chance to win.” Despite the benching, Bourne was his usual joyful self on gameday. He showcased his leadership by celebrating the team win despite the circumstances.
According to Boston Globe columnist Andrew Callahan, the benching was due to the staff wanting to prioritize younger players during the team’s rebuild. Bourne would later confirm that to be the case.“They’re trying to get the young guys going. They kind of just told me through the week that I was going to be down,” Bourne told MassLive’s Mark Daniuels.
This would make sense if Bourne was on an expiring contract, but the veteran signed a multi-year extension during the offseason. The organization has slighted Bourne on more than one occasion, and the benching of the veteran in 2022 is particularly noteworthy.
So here’s a timeline of the receiver’s time in New England—the highs and the lows—and what should be next for Bourne.
2021: Bourne’s Breakout Year
Bourne signed with the Patriots during the 2021 offseason after spending four years with the San Francisco 49ers. Paired with a rookie quarterback in Mac Jones, Bourne had a career year, posting 800 receiving yards and five touchdowns.
During New England’s wildcard matchup against the Buffalo Bills, Bourne posted 77 receiving yards and two touchdowns. It was clear Bourne had the talent to grow in New England.
2022: Trouble In Paradise
Despite posting career highs in yards and touchdowns in his first year in Foxborough, Bourne did not improve on his numbers in year two—mostly due to a lack of playing time.
Bourne found himself in offensive play caller Matt Patricia’s doghouse after multiple reports surfaced he was late to a meeting. The receiver didn’t play at all week one against the Dolphins and got off to a slow start after being reinstated as a starter.
New England’s 2022 season was marked by offensive ineptitude. The Patricia experiment was not working for the Patriots, and Bourne made his feelings very clear after a Thursday night loss to the Bills: “If we can’t throw it past five yards, it’s just going to be a long game.”
Following an 8-9 season, Patrcia was gone and New England brought in Bill O’Brien to run the offense. A clean slate was ready for Bourne.
2023: Injured
Bourne started the first half of the year picking up right where he left off in 2021.
Through the first eight games, the veteran logged 406 yards with 4 TDs. He was on pace to surpass the career-highs he set during his first year in New England. But halfway through New England’s week eight matchup with the Dolphins, Bourne tore his ACL and was sidelined for the remainder of the year.
2024: More of The Same
After recovering from his injury, Bourne returned to the starting lineup last month against the Miami Dolphins. His production increased with each following game. This all slammed to a halt when the receiver was benched against the Bears.
What’s Next?
Bourne is on a multi-year contract extension that runs through the 2026 season. Unless there’s a trade, Bourne will be with the team for the next three seasons. When on the field, he’s proved to be a reliable weapon for New England. Benching him halfway through the season seems counterproductive, and moving forward the veteran should receive more playing time. If he continues to ride the pine, expect a potentially unhappy Bourne to get moved during the offseason.
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