Kendrick Bourne catches touchdown pass from Drake Maye after Week 10 benching
FOXBORO -- Kendrick Bourne shrugged off his benching last week and made an immediate impact for the New England Patriots in Week 11, catching a first-quarter touchdown against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday.
Bourne capped off a seven-play, 77-yard scoring drive by the Patriots when he hauled in a 10-yard touchdown pass from Drake Maye to put New England on top, 7-0, with just over five minutes left in the first quarter at Gillette Stadium. It was Bourne's first touchdown catch of the season, and the eighth touchdown pass by Maye in his rookie campaign.
.@DrakeMaye2 with a STRIKE to @BournePoly11‼️
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) November 17, 2024
📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/63Q38R5LgM
The touchdown catch was Bourne's second reception of the day, after he started the game with a four-yard catch on New England's first possession. He finished the afternoon five receptions for 70 yards on five targets in the 28-22 New England loss.
Bourne admitted after the game that he could have played better in the weeks leading up to his Week 10 benching, and was glad he could contribute on Sunday. He was, however, disappointed with the end result for the team.
"Honestly speaking, I could have played better. Whatever [coaches] can do to make me better, that's how I have to approach it," he said. "I came into work and focused during the week, but at the end of the day we didn't win so it wasn't good enough."
Maye said he never saw a change in Bourne's approach leading up to Sunday's game, and is grateful for the veteran's exuberant attitude.
"I think his attitude is always the same. KB has got great energy, and that's the one thing about him," said Maye. "He's going to come in, day in, day out with a smile on his face, and I think it's a testament to him for not getting probably what he wanted last week and coming out here and making some big plays for us."
Kendrick Bourne's Patriots career
Bourne is in his fourth season with the Patriots and the first year of a three-year extension that he signed with the team over the offseason. He's been a reliable pass-catcher since coming to New England in 2021, though he missed most of the 2023 season after tearing his ACL in Week 8.
Bourne started the 2024 season on PUP and missed the first four games as he recovered from that injury. He caught four of the six passes that went his way in New England's Week 9 loss to the Tennessee Titans, but then didn't play in Week 10 against the Bears as the Patriots wanted to get their younger receivers more involved in the offense.
Bourne took that move in stride, and brought his usual enthusiasm and energy to practice throughout Week 11. Now he's back to filling an important role on the Patriots' offense.