New England Patriots - NESN.com
The New England Patriots will begin the week without some notable contributors on the practice field.
Mike Vrabel told reporters Monday, per ESPN’s Mike Reiss, that he doesn’t expect Kendrick Bourne to practice this week. The wide receiver left Friday’s practice after getting rolled up on during an intrasquad scrimmage.
Christian Gonzalez is also unlikely to practice on Monday or Wednesday. The star cornerback suffered a reported hamstring injury last week.
Vrabel said he didn’t expect cornerback Carlton Davis III to practice on Monday or Wednesday. However, Pats Nation Network’s Pat Lane noted that the offseason signee was working on the far field in full uniform.
Bourne, who began his career with the San Francisco 49ers, returns for his fifth year with the Patriots. He caught 28 of 38 targets for 305 yards and a touchdown in 12 games last season.
The 30-year-old faces more competition in a wide receiver room that added free agent Stefon Diggs and third-round rookie Kyle Williams. There’s little reason to rush the veteran back to practice in early August.
Gonzalez’s health has sparked more concern, as the 23-year-old hasn’t practiced since limping off the field last Monday. NFL insider Jordan Schultz said the defensive standout may not return too soon, but the issue isn’t expected to affect Gonzalez’s status for a Week 1 contest against the Las Vegas Raiders.
It’s a fair assumption that Bourne, Gonzalez, Davis and plenty of healthy Patriots veterans won’t see the field for Friday’s preseason matchup against the Washington Commanders.
