New England Patriots wide receiver Kayshon Boutte’s consistent outings across much of the first half of the season have started to wear on him. The wideout last saw time on the field in the Patriots’ 24-23 win over the Atlanta Falcons in Week 9, but didn’t record any yardage.
Head coach Mike Vrabel and his men are on a dominant roll this season, and he’d want his best players available for a crucial second half of the campaign. That said, let’s examine Boutte’s health situation as Week 11’s slate of action approaches and the Patriots are set for a Thursday Night Football showdown with the New York Jets.
Will Patriots WR Kayshon Boutte Be Ready for TNF vs. the Jets?
Boutte hasn’t missed a lot of action this year, having only missed one full game after his Falcons exit due to a hamstring injury. He didn’t record any stats prior to his injury, and Vrabel said the following Monday that the receiver likely won’t practice when the team begins its Week 10 prep, alluding to a lot of uncertainty surrounding his status for their matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The wideout continued to miss practice that week to the point where he was ruled out on Friday (Nov. 7) and didn’t feature in their 28-23 win over the Bucs.
He logged a limited practice on Monday, which was a trend in the right direction if he is to make it to Thursday night. However, another limited session on Tuesday meant that he’d have a hard time proving that his hamstring would be strong enough for the primetime contest against the Jets.
In his absence, Stefon Diggs has continued to be quarterback Drake Maye’s favorite target, supported by a cast of Hunter Henry, DeMario Douglas and Mack Hollins.
Diggs has been one of the team’s top highlights across its 7-game winning streak, with two 100-yard performances and three touchdowns. Only once has he put up under 25 receiving yards in a contest. He is expected to continue his role as Maye’s primary offensive weapon.
Hunter Henry has also played a key role in Vrabel’s offense, as tight ends in New England usually do. His season stat line includes three 50-plus-yard games and four touchdowns, as he has also benefited from the Patriots’ solid run game that features Rhamondre Stevenson, TreVeyon Henderson and Terrell Jennings.
The Patriots would like to capitalize on their AFC East rivals, the Buffalo Bills’ recent slump, by continuing to win games, and Thursday night will present them with their next opportunity.