Entering Week 10 of the NFL season, the New England Patriots are on a six-game winning streak following a 24-23 victory over the Atlanta Falcons. New England currently sits second in the AFC, tied with both the Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos at 7-2. The Patriots are in first in the AFC East, with the Buffalo Bills only a game behind them at 6-2.
One of the biggest reasons for the winning streak has been the play of second-year quarterback Drake Maye. With the help of offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, Maye has vastly improved in year 2, completing 74.1% of his passes for 2,285 yards, while throwing 17 touchdowns and only 4 interceptions. Going into Week 10, though, the Patriots' offense may be down some key members.
During Thursday's practice, both Rhamondre Stevenson and Kayshon Boutte didn't take the field. Stevenson missed the Week 9 victory due to a toe injury, while Boutte injured his hamstring during the contest. If Stevenson misses a second consecutive game, we should expect both TreVeyon Henderson and Terrell Jennings to see the field. Without Boutte in the lineup, rookie Kyle Williams may finally get the chance to prove his worth to the team.
Pats Rookie Kyle Williams in Line for Expanded Role
So far this season, Kyle Williams hasn't made an impact when he's been on the field. Williams only has two catches on the year and has only been targeted a total of six times. Even though he hasn't made many plays, that didn't stop McDaniels from praising Williams, via Mike Reiss of ESPN. Now that it's looking likely that Boutte will play, Williams may finally get his chance.
“He practices hard every day, he’s out there every day, which is an important part for a young player to develop," McDaniels said about the rookie wideout. "He knows what to do. He’s played multiple spots. He knows how to function in multiple spots. We’ll see if there are more opportunities as we go forward.”
Once Boutte left in Week 9, we saw Williams' role expand, as he earned his most snaps of the season (31) and his highest snap count percentage (46%). This is a good sign for Williams as it indicates that the coaching staff trusts him to be out on the field. Seeing how his role increased after Boutte's injury, Williams should be in line for an increased role in Week 10 if Boutte is officially sidelined.
It will be interesting to see how the Patriots utilize Williams in Week 10 and whether the rookie can finally get going, as many fans have been waiting for. New England remains on the road in Week 10, traveling south to take on the 6-2 Tampa Bay Buccaneers. While it should be a tough game, Tampa is the 22nd-ranked pass defense, surrendering 228.8 passing yards per game. This game could be just what Kyle Williams needs to establish himself in the Patriots' offense.