The one and only roster cut deadline is just two days away, and the Patriots have a lot of decisions to make between now and then. They already cut 14 players on Friday morning, as Mike Vrabel announced to reporters just hours after the team's preseason finale, meaning there is a long way to go in making the final 53-man team for the upcoming season.
There are a few interesting competitions to pay attention to, with the forthcoming decisions around the wide receiver room being the most important. There are already a handful of names deemed locks at this point (Efton Chism III, Stefon Diggs, DeMario Douglas, Mack Hollins, and Kyle Williams), leaving just two spots up for grabs.
Among those who are still vying for a spot with the best chance of making the team is Kendrick Bourne, who had the best season of his career with the Patriots under Josh McDaniels in 2021, which might be a persuading factor to keep him around.
But, he has been on the roster bubble for most of the summer, with his role at training camp seemingly vanishing as the weeks went on. However, it appears that he will make the final cut and be given another chance to prove his value to the offense.
A list of injuries to wide receivers might create an opportunity for some bubble receivers on the Patriots' roster
Because a few receivers were banged up during the preseason, there's a chance that some might start the season away from the team and create a pathway for someone like Bourne to make the final roster.
That's a scenario that ESPN's Mike Reiss sees happening in the next few days, with Bourne being at the top of the list of receivers to be given a lifeline because of it.
"Bourne's experience playing different spots in coordinator Josh McDaniels' system was always valuable, but his roster spot was potentially threatened by a handful of younger receivers including 2025 third-round pick Kyle Williams and undrafted free agent Efton Chism III. But with Williams and Chism also managing injuries of their own, and Baker squarely on the bubble himself, it could give Bourne's staying power some added pop."
Bourne's first season in New England was impressive for a number of reasons, but perhaps the most noteworthy part was his ability to thrive in a new offensive system that has been historically known for being difficult. He recorded 55 receptions for 800 yards and five touchdowns, all of which were (and still are) career highs.
He proved to be a great free agent signing on and off the field, but has dealt with unfortunate circumstances in the years since that have depleted his value to the offense. That is expected to change now that McDaniels is back, and Bourne should be given another chance to show what he can do.
That will be important if he was especially retained on the team in the wake of his teammates' injuries, because that could mean he is a tradeable asset once they return. If he can perform at the same level he once did, then that could make that decision a lot more difficult for Mike Vrabel and Co.