Patriots wide receiver Kendrick Bourne tore his right ACL in Sunday’s loss at Miami and will miss the rest of the season, according to a source.
There is hope Bourne could recover in time for the start of training camp next summer, though not necessarily with the Patriots. He is scheduled to hit unrestricted free agency this spring.
The 28-year-old got hurt on a sideline tackle after he caught a pass early in Sunday’s fourth quarter. Bourne is the Patriots’ leading receiver in all major categories, with 37 catches for 406 yards and four touchdowns. He’s also logged 73% of the team’s offensive snaps through eight games, highest among the receivers.
Bourne was enjoying a rebound season after making significant changes to his offseason routine and diet. He had already surpassed his season total for catches last year (35) and was tracking for career highs in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns. Patriots coach Bill Belichick praised Bourne’s production and consistently as recently as two weeks ago during a radio interview on WEEI.
“Yeah, KB’s done a good job for us all year, not just yesterday,” Belichick said after the Patriots’ loss at Las Vegas. “Getting open, with the ball in his hands, after the catch. He’s shown some good run skills and the ball security’s been much better this year.”
Bourne is also regarded as one of the most energetic players in the team’s locker room. He is one of several starters the Patriots have lost to injury this season, including Pro Bowl outside linebacker Matt Judon and rookie cornerback Christian Gonzalez. Without him, the Pats’ receiver depth is down to DeVante Parker, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Demario Douglas, Jalen Reagor, Tyquan Thornton and rookie Kayshon Boutte.
Parker suffered a head injury in Sunday’s game and did not return, while Smith-Schuster returned from a two-game absence to find himself fifth on the depth chart. He has 89 yards total on the season. Douglas, a sixth-round rookie, is now the Pats’ leading healthy receiver with 222 yards.
Reagor has just one catch in four game appearances. Thornton was a healthy scratch Sunday, and Boutte hasn’t taken any snaps since the season opener. They have eight and zero yards, respectively, on the season.
Bourne should soon on injured reserve, which will create an open roster spot.
