The New England Patriots have been among the biggest surprises of the first half of the season. With Drake Maye taking a leap into superstardom and emerging as a true MVP candidate, the team has immediately become a dangerous contender in the AFC.
But the success of the franchise hasn’t been tied to Maye alone, as the rest of the roster has grown in sync with him. Perhaps the biggest jump, though, came from wide receiver Kayshon Boutte, who has emerged as a favorite for the quarterback and a lethal downfield threat. But against the Atlanta Falcons, Boutte suffered a major blow.
What Happened to Kayshon Boutte?
A hamstring injury early in the game kept Boutte out for most of the contest. However, his status to return was still questionable. However, as the game resumed after halftime, the franchise’s communication department officially declared him out.
With 431 yards and five touchdowns on the season, he is ranked eighth among receivers in the league based on PFSN’s WR Impact metric. He has played exceptionally well this season, particularly as a deep threat, with an average of 18.7 yards per catch.
His absence could be a major blow for New England, which has relied heavily on the deep attack for the offense’s success. But, even without him, there are a few weapons that the Patriots could make good use of.
The ever-reliable Hunter Henry should continue to be a reliable outlet for Maye, while Stefon Diggs has had a renaissance year, ranking seventh on PFSN’s WR Impact. But the threat Boutte provides is unlike any other on the roster.
And he’s become a favorite for their quarterback as well, who praised him before the game, stating, “Keep throwing to the guy, and he keeps making plays.” On the night, his playmaking was sorely missed by New England, especially in the second half.
After leading 21-14 going into halftime, they were only able to manage three more points in the second half, as they barely hung on to get a 24-23 victory. Maye, for his part, had a solid outing, throwing for 259 yards and two touchdowns, while giving up one interception.
However, Boutte’s presence, or lack thereof, was felt in his average yards per attempt, where he finished with 8.9 yards, his lowest outing since a Week 3 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers (7.2), after which the team has gone on this six-game winning streak.