Patriots Wide Receiver Expected to Miss MNF

The New England Patriots will be short at least one of their top pass catchers when they host the Chicago Bears in Week 7 on Monday Night Football. NFL Network's Mike Giardi reports wide receiver Kendrick Bourne is expected to miss tomorrow's game due to a turf toe injury.

Per source, Kendrick Bourne (turf toe) is not expected to play tomorrow night. #Patriots
— Mike Giardi (@MikeGiardi) October 23, 2022

Wide receiver Nelson Agholor is also highly questionable for Monday's contest, so the Patriots could be without two of their top pass catchers. The pair have combined for 381 yards through six weeks.

Arguably the fourth wide receiver on the team's depth chart, Bourne has been the subject of trade rumors as the league approaches the November 1st trade deadline. There was a case to be made he was the team's best wide receiver in 2021, compiling 925 yards from scrimmage and an impressive 11.4 yards per target.

For whatever reason, the Patriots appear to have deemphasized Bourne's role on the team in 2022. In his six appearances this year, he has seen only 14 targets. He has maintained similar productivity in his limited opportunities, averaging 11.1 yards per target.

Bourne joined the Patriots as a free agent in the 2021 offseason after four years with the San Francisco 49ers. The Patriots signed Bourne to a modest three-year, $15 million deal, and he quickly rewarded the team with career-highs in receptions, yards, and touchdowns.