Kayshon Boutte certain looks as if somebody who’ll get excellent news on Tuesday.
The rookie receiver constantly improved over the previous couple of weeks, standing out each on the observe area and within the Patriots’ preseason recreation in opposition to the Inexperienced Bay Packers. Boutte, a sixth-round decide, arrived in New England with depressed expectations after a tough finish to his profession at LSU, however he’s made a powerful case for incomes a spot on the preliminary 53-man roster.
And there have been extra constructive indicators Friday evening, when the 21-year-old performed simply three snaps within the Patriots’ preseason loss to the Titans in Tennessee. The sunshine workload might be considered as an indication Boutte nonetheless may have a job when New England declares its roster Tuesday afternoon.
Most significantly, Boutte has impressed his head coach.
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“As camp went on, appeared to get stronger and extra productive each in observe and video games,” Invoice Belichick mentioned throughout a Saturday morning video name. “Actually in all of the areas that he labored into, in order that was very encouraging. He confirmed an explosive means on the sphere when he performed. So he’s had a great camp.”
Belichick clearly gained’t reveal roster selections earlier than he has to, however he may’ve tipped his hand towards the top of his reply.
“We’ll check out the whole lot right here as we put issues collectively right here over the weekend and heading into the common season,” Belichick mentioned. “However yeah, Kayshon has had a powerful camp.”
How the Patriots assemble their receiver room will probably be one of many high storylines to watch as cutdown day nears.
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New England sometimes carries simply 5 receivers, and DeVante Parker, Kendrick Bourne, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Demario Douglas are roster locks. So is second-year wideout Tyquan Thornton, regardless of what some wish to imagine.
Thornton’s lingering shoulder harm may make the maths simpler for Boutte. Nevertheless, if Thornton is wholesome in time for Week 1, New England doubtless might want to roster six receivers if it needs to maintain Boutte, who nonetheless lacks explosion and is extra strong than spectacular.
For what it’s value, we have now the Patriots doing simply that in our newest 53-man roster projection.