New England Patriots wide receiver Kendrick Bourne had a rough go of things last season, failing to build on his career-best 2021 season.
He finished the year recording 35 catches for 434 yards and a touchdown in comparison to the 55 receptions, 800 yards and five touchdowns he had in the previous year.
Most of that success stemmed from the strong rapport he had with quarterback Mac Jones, along with Josh McDaniels still overseeing the offense at that time.
There’s still hope he can get back to being the player that showed up on tape as a legitimate downfield threat for the Patriots in 2021. Here’s what ESPN’s Mike Reiss had to say on Bourne:
Seven-year veteran receiver Kendrick Bourne was critical of himself for his 2022 performance (35 catches, 434 yards, 1 TD) after a productive 2021 season with the Patriots (55 catches, 800 yards, 5 TDs). His hard work this offseason has made an impression, with one member of the team relaying he had a “great spring.”
Bourne didn’t see much playing time at all last season, but he started to emerge as a playmaker toward the end of the year. He had a six-catch, 100-yard performance against the Cincinnati Bengals on Christmas Eve.
His success could be equally as important to Jones, who is also looking to have a bounce-back year. A good season from Bourne would undoubtedly help the quarterback find his footing again.
