Patriots Could Get Two Key Offensive Pieces Back

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — As the New England Patriots turn their attention toward a Week 12 showdown with the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium, they remain hopeful for the return of two key contributors on offense for their stretch run to the postseason.

Running back Rhamondre Stevenson (toe) and receiver Kayshon Boutte (hamstring) — each having been essentially sidelined since Week 9 — are expected to rejoin the Pats on the practice fields when they reconvene on Nov. 19 in preparation for this weekend’s road matchup in the Queen City, per head coach Mike Vrabel. Neither Stevenson nor Boutte played in New England’s Week 11 victory over the New York Jets.

“I would expect them to be out there [this week] and then again, we'll see, monitor how that goes,” Vrabel told reporters at Gillette Stadium. “To me, when you come back, it's just about the volume and handling what their normal volume would be, can they, obviously, do their job up to what we expect and what they expect it to be, and being able to protect themselves out there.”

Boutte, who suffered a hamstring injury during the Pats’ 24-23 victory over the Atlanta Falcons in Week 9, left the game in the closing moments of first half and did not return. He was inactive for New England’s Week 10 matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Through nine games this season, the Pats’ sixth-round pick [187 overall] in the 2023 NFL Draft, has become one ofquarterback Drake Maye’s most-reliable offensive weapons — as well as a weekly big-play threat. He entered Week 9 having caught 23 passes for 431 yards and five touchdowns. Before leaving New England’s Week 9 game, he had zero catches on only one target. 

The Patriots, in turn, would certainly welcome the LSU product back to their offense with open arms. In addition to alleviating the increased workload of fellow receivers Stefon Diggs, DeMario Douglas, Mack Hollins and rookie Kyle Williams, Boutte [if healthy] would also be primed to feast on a Bengals pass defense which currently ranks 30th in the NFL — allowing and average of 260.1 passing yards per game, with 23 passing touchdowns.

Patriots Need Rhamondre to Run