The New England Patriots have a revolving door of receivers, and at this point, it’s getting harder and harder to keep up with who’s on the field and who’s not.
Just ask NFL Network’s Steve Smith, who completely forgot JuJu Smith-Schuster and Kendrick Bourne were not playing in Sunday’s game against the Denver Broncos.
During the pregame segment, Smith mentioned both as players he needed to see show up for the Patriots in the game, but Bourne has been on injured reserve since the team’s Week 8 loss to the Miami Dolphins, when he tore his ACL.
And Smith-Schuster has been out for back-to-back weeks with an ankle injury. The Patriots are down to DeVante Parker, Demario Douglas, Jalen Reagor and Tyquan Thornton as their top receiving options at Mile High.
On NFLN, Steve Smith Sr. listed two injured Patriots WRs while discussing matchups to watch. "Kendrick Bourne, I know he's probably not, I think he's hurt, need him to show up. JuJu Smith-Schuster, he's on the sideline, need him to show up. Uh, who else they have?" pic.twitter.com/m2Z14q6TVP
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) December 25, 2023
Here’s some of the best Twitter reactions to the segment:
Steve Smith. https://t.co/ncsCRPVMWt pic.twitter.com/yCSeIYwoC1
— Wes Reynolds (@WesReynolds1) December 25, 2023
Steve Smith saying that Kendrick Bourne needs to show up when he's been out for more than half the season is something else
— Ethan Hammerman (@Ethanhamm) December 25, 2023
Steve Smith Sr. just said the Patriots need Kendrick Bourne to step up tonight. Kendrick Bourne is on IR…
— Steven (@Elspedd) December 25, 2023
Steve Smith saying Bourne and JuJu need to show up tonight is laughably bad…@nflnetwork Come get your boy because he has no idea what he is talking about or who is playing
— Mike D. (@mdouglas19) December 25, 2023
Steve Smith Sr. on #Patriots matchups to watch pregame on @nflnetwork: "Kendrick Bourne, I know he's probably not — I think he's hurt. Need him to show up. JuJu Smith-Schuster, he's on the sideline, need him to show up. Uh, who else they have (at receiver)?"
🤔😬
— Andrew Callahan (@_AndrewCallahan) December 25, 2023
Kendrick Bourne hearing this while watching at home https://t.co/82dMm8sNAV pic.twitter.com/Mohgtz5sAk
— Kevin Maggiore (@MaggioreKevin) December 25, 2023
Steve Smith Sr on the Patriots side receivers matchups before the game:
“Kendrick Bourne, I know he's probably not…… I think he's hurt. Need him to show up. JuJu Smith Schuster, he is on the sideline, need him to show up. Uhm, who else they have???”
Guy has no clue who’s… pic.twitter.com/bK54WAN5pi
— Savage (@SavageSports_) December 25, 2023
Steve Smith needs Kendrick Bourne to “show up tonight!”
Way to prepare for the game Steve!! pic.twitter.com/Cd4Q5SXT3x
— Slappy White (@Slappy_White1) December 25, 2023
Steve Smith really just said Kendrick Bourne needs to show up today. He tore his ACL in October. The lack of preparation is unreal.
— Jessy Han (@hjessy_) December 25, 2023
Steve Smith constantly gets on tv and has no clue what he is talking about lmao
— BADDIEE Magrathh (@Bradymags1213) December 25, 2023
NFL Network pregame analyst Steve Smith just said Patriots receivers Kendrick Bourne and JuJu Smith-Schuster "need to show up" tonight. Both are injured and neither is playing.
— Steve Lookner (@lookner) December 25, 2023
Live look at Kendrick Bourne according to Steve Smith, now that’s he’s active pic.twitter.com/FtDLiiDBML
— George Barclay (@gbarks_24) December 25, 2023
