Patriots News: Bill Belichick, Kendrick Bourne, DeMarcus Covington & Malik Cunningham

Kendrick Bourne is reportedly recovering ahead of schedule from ACL tear

One of the Patriots' more under-the-radar free agents this year is wide receiver Kendrick Bourne, who is recovering from an ACL tear suffered during the Week 8 game against the Dolphins.

When he missed the rest of the season, it was a massive blow to the offense, especially since he was on the path to completing the best statistical year of his career. And now, when Jerod Mayo considers rebuilding the roster, he should be treated as a priority re-signing.

Some may be hesitant to do so because he's coming off a significant injury that can drastically change the performance of a player, but he has been a consistently productive member of the Patriots roster over the last three years, and it would be foolish not to extend him a new contract.

The good thing about the latest news surrounding Bourne's recovery is that he is ahead of schedule, something Boston Sports Journal's Mike Giardi revealed in a recent article. It plays well into him returning to New England, which does not have a thrilling roster of receivers under contract for 2025, and Bourne has expressed his desire to return.