Kendrick Bourne returns to Patriots practice after starting season on PUP
FOXBORO -- While the injury bug has been biting pretty hard in Foxboro, the Patriots may be getting some reinforcements back in the near future. Wide receiver Kendrick Bourne was back on the practice field for the first time this season on Wednesday.
"Excited to be back out there. It's a blessing how far I've come," Bourne said in the New England locker room on Thursday. "The journey has been tough, but just being out there with the guys was encouraging."
Bourne started the 2024 season on the physically unable to perform list (PUP) while still recovering from the season-ending knee injury that he suffered last October. The 29-year-old signed a three-year contract to remain in New England in the offseason.
When healthy, the veteran receiver has been a steady and stable contributor in Patriots' pass attack. Bourne had a career-high 800 yards over 17 games in 2021 -- his first season in New England -- and four touchdowns over eight games before going down in 2023.
"I feel good," Bourne said Thursday. "It's been a process but I've taken it the right way."
Bourne said that he felt extremely weak when he began his rehab, a process he was still going through in training camp. He said that he used his four weeks on PUP as his own training camp.
"I probably could have played but it was better for me to take time. That four weeks was my training camp. Having all rehab, it was no training. So I couldn't polish my routes and things like that," he explained.
Prior to Wednesday's practice, head coach Jerod Mayo spoke of Bourne's impact in the locker room.
"He brings great energy everywhere he goes," said Mayo. "I know he wasn't voted captain, but he did have a significant amount of votes from his peers. I thought that said a lot for a guy that didn't practice. Just his energy and his vibe is contagious."
"The energy, the juice -- you felt that immediately," offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt said Thursday. "Practice was different once he stepped on the field. It'll be a huge boost in the receiver room."
"Just being who I am," Bourne said Thursday.
In addition to Bourne, the Patriots also got linebacker Sione Takitaki (who also started the season on PUP) and safety/linebacker Marte Mapu (IR) back at practice on Wednesday. All three players were limited on the team's Week 5 practice/injury report, and the team now has 21 days to activate them to the 53-man roster or they'll have to sit out the rest of the season.
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