Patriots
“I’ve loads of love for KB. I hope he is OK.”
Kendrick Bourne has been one of many few brilliant spots on a Patriots offense marred by uneven execution and a dearth of confirmed playmakers.
However New England’s go-to receiver will not be again on the gridiron for an prolonged stretch after struggling a knee harm throughout Sunday’s loss to the Miami Dolphins.
In line with NFL Community’s Ian Rapoport, Bourne could have an MRI on Monday with a view to decide the severity of the harm, which he suffered in the course of the fourth quarter of New England’s 31-17 defeat.
Rapoport added that the “hope” from the Patriots’ camp is that it’s simply an MCL harm, based mostly on the preliminary analysis. However an MRI will supply extra readability so far as Bourne’s restoration timeline.
According to MassLive’s Mark Daniels, Bourne was noticed postgame sporting a big brace round his proper knee.
“KB is a superb teammate,” quarterback Mac Jones stated postgame. “Nice buddy of mine and does an excellent job coming to work on daily basis and staying optimistic. I’ve loads of love for KB. I hope he’s OK. I didn’t see him in there. Off the sector, he’s one in every of my finest buddies, actually. I’ve loads of respect for him, his household and all people. So I hope he’s OK.”
The 28-year-old wideout, presently within the remaining yr of his contract with New England, was shortly dominated out of Sunday’s sport after he awkwardly twisted his knee whereas getting tackled alongside the sideline.
Bourne, who was clutching the again of his knee whereas getting attended to by New England’s coaching employees, ultimately made his approach off the sector beneath his personal energy.
Bourne was one of many few regulars on offense who delivered throughout Sunday’s loss, reeling in three catches on 4 targets for 36 yards and a landing. After being restricted to only 35 catches and one landing in 16 video games with the Patriots in 2022, Bourne is now as much as 37 receptions and 4 touchdowns in eight video games this fall.
Any prolonged absence for Bourne can be disastrous for a Patriots’ roster already sputtering with a 2-6 report. Moreover Demario Douglas, no different Patriots wideout has a confirmed monitor report of separating from defensive backs with some semblance of consistency this season.
Together with Bourne’s evident chemistry with Jones, his underlying numbers and yards-after-catch (YAC) capabilities have drawn reward from ESPN Analytics.
In line with the data-based outlet, Bourne entered Sunday because the NFL’s Eleventh-ranked wideout and high receiver within the AFC East attributable to his means to increase performs after reeling within the soccer.
Bourne’s potential substitute in JuJu Smith-Schuster ranked lifeless final in that ESPN Analytics rating at 109th general.
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