Patriot Who Was Nearly Traded Suddenly in Coaches' Good Graces Again

The New England Patriots battled hard over the weekend but couldn't get the job done as they fell 28-22 to the LA Rams at Gillette Stadium in Week 11. Even though the outcome wasn't what the Patriots had hoped for, the experience wasn't all bad as there were several positive takeaways regarding several players — including Kendrick Bourne.

In a season where he's struggled to produce, Bourne was New England's best wide receiver in defeat. The former Eastern Washington product caught all five of quarterback Drake Maye's targets, converting those chances into a season-high 70 yards and his first touchdown of the year.

While some Patriots fans were hoping to see younger receivers — like Ja'Lynn Polk and Javon Baker — be given more opportunities down the stretch, it doesn't sound like the coaching staff is planning to make any changes.

Patriots News: Kendrick Bourne to See More Playing Time

Following Monday's practice, Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo made it clear that Bourne will continue to see more targets and snaps as long as he remains productive.

"(Bourne) had a great game, and Polk is developing, and he will be a good player in this league," Mayo told reporters, per Boston Herald's Doug Kyed. "As the head coach of this football team, we're trying to win right now, and whoever the hot hand happens to be in that situation will play more."

Bourne's bounce-back performances comes when he needed it the most. It wasn't long ago that he was a trade candidate heading into the Nov. 5 deadline.

The 2024 season has been a rollercoaster ride for Bourne, who's been trying to get back on track following last year's Achilles tendon tear. He looked like a shell of his former self when he opened the campaign with eight catches for 70 yards without a TD in his first five games, leading to his not playing a single snap against the Chicago Bears in Week 10.

While putting a player in the doghouse doesn't always work, the decision to bench Bourne clearly paid off judging by his latest performance. The Patriots certainly wouldn't mind if his confidence is back considering how he was on pace for over 860 yards and nine TDs before his 2023 season-ending injury.

Hopefully, Bourne's newfound swagger rubs off on his younger teammates, such as Polk.

Although the 2024 second-rounder oozes with potential, he's struggled to thrive at the NFL level with 11 catches for 80 receiving yards and two TDs in his first 10 games. Polk has only made one reception since Week 7 and wasn't even targeted last week despite playing 31 offensive snaps.

Polk, Bourne, and the rest of New England's wideouts will have the chance to prove themselves when they visit the rival Miami Dolphins this weekend. The AFC East rivals already collided once this season, ending in a 15-10 win for Miami at Gillette Stadium in Week 5.

For now, it looks like history could repeat itself as the Patriots head into Week 12 as the 7-point road underdogs to the Dolphins, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.

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