3 Patriots Who Can Clinch a Roster Spot in Final Preseason Game

2. Kayshon Boutte, WR

Sow isn’t the only rookie who’s been impressing the New England coaching staff and fans alike this summer. Wide receiver Kayshon Boute — Round 6, 187th overall — has also turned heads recently.

Boutte didn’t exactly impress in the preseason opener, but he bounced back against the Packers by turning a pair of catches into 49 receiving yards and a touchdown.

The moment that grabbed the football world’s attention was when backup quarterback Bailey Zappe connected with the rookie WR for an electric 42-yard TD pass in the second quarter’s dying minutes.

The hype around Boutte is certainly justified. As storied as the Patriots franchise is, management hasn’t exactly done a good job of drafting and developing wideouts. The fanbase has the right to be excited about an electric pass-catcher who looks like he can contribute despite being a sixth-round pick.

The thing is that Boutte must prove himself again Saturday night. While his last performance was impressive, he needs to convince Belichick & Co. that he’s more than a boom-or-bust player.

The silver lining is that fellow WR Tyquan Thornton is still week-to-week with a shoulder injury and could be sidelined to begin the new campaign. Boutte must take advantage of this situation by putting forth a performance that’s too impressive for the coaching staff to ignore.