Patriots’ WR Kendrick Bourne is making ‘great progress’ towards return, Jerod Mayo says
Bourne is one of several players eligible to return from injured reserve starting next week.
Kendrick Bourne, who has been out since last October as he recovers from a torn ACL, has been showing positive steps toward a potential return, coach Jeord Mayo told reporters on Monday.
“Yeah, he’s making great progress. He’s running fast,” Mayo said. “He looks good in his routes. When he’s ready to be out there, he’ll be out there.”
Bourne began the season on injured reserve and is not eligible to return until at least next week. Those who are on injured reserve must miss at least four games. The Patriots will take on Bourne’s former team, the San Fransico 49ers, during their fourth game of the season on Sunday.
Bourne’s return could bolster a struggling wide receiver group. Through three games, tight-end Hunter Henry is the only Patriots pass catcher with more than 10 catches or 100 yards, and 109 of his 136 yards came in one game against he Seahawks.
DeMario Douglas, the most productive of New England’s wide receivers so far, is averaging three catches and 27 yards per game.
Bourne was on track for a career year last season before he got hurt. He had 406 yards and four touchdowns through eight games before the knee injury ended his season. His numbers weren’t far off from what Douglas and Henry produced the entire season.
Bourne is one of several injured players who has stayed around the team. Defensive lineman Christian Barmore, who is out indefinitely with blood clots was spotted in the Patriots locker room on Monday.
Mayo also gave an update on a pair of offensive linemen who have played in games this season, but have been banged up recently.
Offensive guard Sidy Sow returned to practice on Monday. Mayo was noncommittal when asked if Sow would return to his starting left-guard spot when healthy. Sow missed the first three games with an ankle injury.
Michael Jordan, who was recently signed to the Patriots 53-man roster off of the practice squad, has been handling those duties in his place.
“I’m not sure,” Mayo said. “It’s still early in the season, and we’ll just have to see how it goes.”
Offensive tackle Vederian Lowe was expected to practice on Monday and Mayo said the team will continue to monitor his status. Lowe missed last week’s game against the Jets with a knee injury.
“With [Vederian] Lowe, it’s interesting,” Mayo said. “He’s been in and out of the lineup all the way back in the summer. When we say we’ll work these guys out in individuals, all that is good, but you have to see how they present the next day. I wish I could sit here and give you a timeline, but I can’t.”
Mayo said he did not have an update on Cole Strange, who has been out since last December with a torn patellar tendon.
After this week, players who began the season on injured reserve including Bourne, Sione Takitaki, and Marte Mapu are eligible to return once they are healthy enough to play.
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