New England Patriots rookie wide receiver Kayshon Boutte has been having a productive week.
He was recently praised by coach Bill Belichick on Friday for having a strong week of practice, and it sounds as though he is ready to take on the challenge of filling a serious void for the Patriots.
The rookie has not played since Week 1 against the Philadelphia Eagles. He did not record any statistics in that game. Nevertheless, now he has a chance to make a major impact with a depleted wide receiver group in New England.
Boutte recorded 1,782 receiving yards in his LSU career, and he has flashed big-time playmaking ability in the past. He is ready to take his game from simply being a healthy scratch to being productive for one of the NFL’s all-time great franchises.
He spoke about his mindset during Thursday’s media availability, as transcribed by NESN.com’s Zack Cox.
“It’s been a big week,” Boutte said. “Injuries happen in and out throughout the NFL. That’s part of the game. It’s unfortunate, but it’s part of the game. So they kind of preached to us about us having to step up.
“Being out since the first week, coming in, there’s huge expectations, so I’m just approaching this week harder than ever.”
The Patriots undoubtedly need to develop wide receivers for the future of their organization. A big game from Boutte against the Commanders on Sunday could be one of the first steps in doing that.
