Kendrick Bourne discusses contract talks with Patriots, recovery timeline
"Free agency frenzy as we’re all talking about. I don’t know what’s going to happen."
Even before the Patriots’ miserable 2023 season came to a close, wide receiver Kendrick Bourne made it clear that he’d welcome a return to Foxborough.
Two months later, the soon-to-be free agent hasn’t changed his tune when it comes to sticking around with New England.
“Obviously, it’s a new coach and new situation, but the building itself, the organization itself, what they stand for, has helped me grow, man. It’s some place, they hold a special place in my heart, man. So, I would love to go back,” Bourne said Thursday during an appearance on “NFL Total Access” about the Patriots. “Free agency frenzy as we’re all talking about. I don’t know what’s going to happen. But I’m excited to know.
“It’s a place that is definitely in the talks. It’s going well so far. We’ll see how far it goes, but just negotiating and how it goes, we’ll see.”
The Patriots reportedly have a contract offer on the table for Bourne, but the 28-year-old wideout could opt to test the market next week when free agency begins.
Over his three seasons in New England, Bourne reeled in 127 catches for 1,640 yards and 10 touchdowns. Even with the Patriots’ extensive offensive woes in 2023, he was in the midst of a productive season (37 catches, 406 yards, four touchdowns in eight games) before tearing his ACL during a Week 8 road loss to the Dolphins.
Despite the severity of that injury, Bourne stressed on Thursday that he shouldn’t be limited by the time the 2024 NFL season begins. He addeded that surgeon Neal ElAttrache, who performed procedures on Tom Brady, Kobe Bryant, Shohei Ohtani and other star athletes, shared a similar prognosis after their latest check-in.
“He let me know that I’m going to be ready, come in minicamp getting ready and then training camp I’m full go,” Bourne said. “My plan is to play Game 1. And I believe I’m going to be ready. Where I’m at right now, I’m on track — ahead of schedule. I feel good.”
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