New England Patriots coach Jerod Mayo made an interesting decision before the team’s upset victory over the Chicago Bears on Sunday.
He decided to bench veteran wide receiver Kendrick Bourne a week after his best performance since returning from the torn ACL he suffered last season. Bourne hauled in four receptions for 41 yards in the 20-17 overtime loss to the Tennessee Titans last week.
Before the knee injury in 2023, Bourne led the team in receiving yards. He has clearly struggled this season with only eight receptions for 70 yards in total for the Patriots.
“There was a lot that went into that,” Mayo said on Bourne after the game. “We thought that was the best thing to do for us to give us the best chance to win. All of those guys bring a certain skill set to the game. We just didn’t know who was going to play more.
“It just played out that way. But I will say this, even though Bourne didn’t play today, he was the first one smiling when I walked in the locker room, and I’ve always appreciated that. Just his energy and excitement.”
#Patriots HC Jerod Mayo on why Kendrick Bourne didn’t play today:
“There was a lot that went into that….We thought that was the best thing to do, to give us the best chance to win.”
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: @Patriots) pic.twitter.com/FqvK7YXStl
— New England Sports Fellow (@NESportsFellow) November 10, 2024
Bourne, Demario Douglas and Kayshon Boutte have been three of the more productive wide receivers for the Patriots. Time will tell if Mayo’s decision was a one-off or if the Patriots continue to shift the focus away from Bourne this season.