The Patriots are expected to hire Josh McDaniels as OC under new HC Mike Vrabel, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. It's a homecoming for McDaniels, who had two previous stints with New England. He ran the offense from 2006 to 2008 and then again from 2012 to 2021. The Patriots ranked top eight in points in 12 of McDaniels' 13 seasons and top 11 in yards in 10 of 13. Of course, the majority of those offenses were quarterbacked by Tom Brady. In three years without Brady, McDaniels' Patriots finished eighth, 27th, and sixth in points; fifth, 27th, and 15th in yards. McDaniels also spent two seasons as Broncos HC (2009-2010), one as Rams OC (2011), and two as Raiders HC (2022-2023). None of those teams ranked better than 12th in yards or points. McDaniels has shown the ability to morph his offense to fit the personnel, with eight top-10 finishes in rushing yards and 10 top-10 finishes in passing yards. He's not as exciting for QB Drake Maye and this Patriots offense as Ben Johnson or even Liam Coen would have been. But McDaniels is at least a known commodity and should bring some stability to this offense in 2025. We'll see what the team does this offseason to upgrade the offensive line and skill positions.
Patriots WR Ja’Lynn Polk (concussion) missed practice all week and is out for Sunday’s game vs. the Jets. The rookie is off to a rough start, catching just 10 of 26 targets for 78 yards and one TD through seven games. Kayshon Boutte, Demario Douglas, and Kendrick Bourne figure to operate as New England’s top three WRs this weekend.
Patriots QB Drake Maye will start this weekend's game vs. the Texans, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. New England hung on to QB Jacoby Brissett as long as it could -- but you can only stick with a QB averaging 5.2 yards per attempt for so long.
Patriots WR Kendrick Bourne (knee) has been activated from the PUP list and will make his 2024 debut vs. the Dolphins on Sunday, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports. It'll be Bourne's first action since last October's torn ACL.
Patriots WR Kendrick Bourne will open the regular season on the physically unable to perform list, according to multiple reports. That means Bourne will miss at least the first four games while continuing to work back from last October's ACL tear.
Patriots rookie WR Ja'Lynn Polk has impressed over his first week of training camp. NESN's Sean T. McGuire praised Polk's work across multiple drills and situations Tuesday, adding that the rookie "continues to stack [good] days."
ESPN's Mike Reiss posited this week who the early favorites might be to lead the Patriots at WR. "Former Viking K.J. Osborn ... has positioned himself as an early leader among Patriots receivers," Reiss wrote. "Second-year slot receiver DeMario Douglas appears as quick as ever. Add in [rookie Ja'Lynn] Polk, and that could be the team's top three targets if everyone is healthy." That assessment came amid a longer intro that focused on Polk's work. The second-round pick has reportedly impressed with his work in practice. He -- and the others -- face a seemingly wide-open fight for jobs in a WR corps that stunk last year and didn't spend much on adding to it this offseason.
Chad Graff of The Athletic says Patriots WR Demario Douglas had an impressive spring. "Douglas was by far the Patriots’ best and most explosive playmaker in practice this spring," Graff says. "Every time he got the ball in his hands, good things seemed to happen for the offense."
The Patriots and WR Kendrick Bourne have agreed to a new three-year deal ahead of free agency. It's a $19.5 million contract with a maximum value of $33 million, according to The Boston Herald's Andrew Callahan. Bourne is working his way back from a torn right ACL suffered this past October but should be ready for the start of the 2024 campaign. He averaged a career-best 50.8 receiving yards per game before going down last year, finishing 35th among WRs in PPR points per game. That feels like Bourne's ultimate fantasy upside this year. We'll see what else the Patriots do at WR this offseason, but Bourne is just a late-round option in early fantasy drafts.
The Patriots are set to hire Jerod Mayo as their new HC, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports. Mayo has been a lifelong Patriot. He was drafted by the team in 2008, played all eight seasons of his career in New England, and then spent the last five years as their inside LBs coach. The team had reportedly been planning for Mayo to succeed Bill Belichick for a while. We'll see what changes Mayo makes to the rest of the coaching staff, particularly whether he keeps OC Bill O'Brien.
Patriots WR Kendrick Bourne suffered a torn right ACL in Sunday's loss to the Dolphins, NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reports. That obviously ends the veteran WR's season. Bourne's also in the final year of his contract. The seventh-year vet has averaged just 2.7 receptions per game for his career, including this season's high of 4.6. Throw in the challenge of the knee recovery, and it's tough to envision a strong landing in free agency or much fantasy relevance going forward. Rookie WR Demario Douglas should find more opportunities available -- especially with WR DeVante Parker also sustaining a concussion in Sunday's game -- but temper your expectations. This has been a low-floor and low-ceiling passing offense for most of the season.
Patriots WR Kendrick Bourne is believed to be dealing with an MCL injury, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Bourne is scheduled for a Monday MRI to get a better look at the damage. We should learn more tomorrow.
Patriots WR Kendrick Bourne has been ruled out of Week 8 with a knee injury. Bourne tallied 3 catches for 36 yards and 1 score prior to the injury.
Patriots WR Kendrick Bourne hauled 6 of 7 targets for a team-leading 63 receiving yards with a TD in Sunday’s upset win vs. the Bills. Rookie wideout Demario Douglas also contributed solid numbers, roping in 4 of his 6 targets for 54 receiving yards in the contest. Despite seeing the Patriots’ offense turn their fortunes around in Week 7, Bourne is the only pass-catcher worthy of lineup consideration next week vs. the Dolphins. This is still an untrustworthy aerial attack for fantasy purposes.
Patriots WR JuJu Smith-Schuster is not expected to play vs. the Bills today, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Smith-Schuster suffered his fifth documented concussion back in Week 5 and still hasn't been cleared. WR Demario Douglas, who was also concussed in Week 5, is expected to play today, according to Rapoport. WR Kendrick Bourne is the only viable fantasy play in New England's WR corps.
Patriots RB Rhamondre Stevenson logged 10 carries for 46 yards and 1 TD in Week 6 vs. the Raiders. He also added 5 catches on 6 targets for 24 yards as a pass-catcher in the contest. Stevenson and WR Kendrick Bourne (10 catches, 89 receiving yards) were the only bright spots from the Pats’ offense to speak of on Sunday. This is a team that’s lost three games in a row and feels directionless given the poor play of QB Mac Jones. We’re not particularly enthusiastic about starting anyone other than Stevenson next week vs. the Bears.
Patriots WRs JuJu Smith-Schuster (concussion) and Demario Douglas (concussion) are out for Sunday’s game vs. the Raiders. WR Tyquan Thornton (shoulder) is listed as questionable. We’ll see if Thornton is ready to make his 2023 debut, but DeVante Parker and Kendrick Bourne will serve as New England’s top two WRs this weekend.
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