FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Kendrick Bourne doesn’t have the best memories from the previous time the Patriots visited the Miami Dolphins. It was Week 8 last season, and New England was trailing when the receiver caught a short pass from quarterback Mac Jones on the first play of the fourth quarter and was tackled near the sideline by Eli Apple.
Bourne, whose knee buckled on the play, remained on the ground. An MRI later revealed a torn ligament, ending a season in which Bourne — in the final year of his contract — had been leading the team in catches (37), yards (406) and touchdowns (four). New England (3-8) prepares to head back to Miami for Sunday’s second matchup of the season with its division rival.
“I got hurt last year, man, so I’m going to the spot I was at and kind of just talk to it. Like, ‘Leave me alone,’” Bourne said. That attitude could also be a mantra for how the 29-year-old, eight-year veteran has managed to cope during his truncated season thus far.
Following season-ending surgery on his knee last November Bourne, entered free agency. But the team brought him back on a new three-year, $19.5 million deal.
Bourne missed all of training camp and didn’t make his 2024 season debut until Week 5, which was a 15-10 home loss to the Dolphins. He struggled to make a meaningful impact in his first five games, failing to get into the end zone, before dressing but not playing in the Patriots’ Week 10 win at Chicago. Bourne remained engaged on the si.