Patriots
“I feel like I’m going to do more of it as time goes on.”
Kayshon Boutte had three catches Thursday night. (Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff)
Kayshon Boutte’s spot on New England’s roster is far from guaranteed for the upcoming season.
Even though the Patriots decided to release JuJu Smith-Schuster on Friday, Boutte still has a ways to go to separate himself from a loaded receiving corps.
The first pieces of that wide receiver corps are expected to include rookies Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker, free agent signing KJ Osborn, veteran Kendrick Bourne and second-year pro DeMario Douglas.
But even with several spots already secured on the depth chart, Boutte sounded confident Sunday when asked about his chances of making the roster this fall.
“I feel like we’re all fighting for a spot, but I have no doubt that I’m going to be a part of the team,” Boutte said. “I feel like I’m doing everything I’m supposed to do to be a part of the team. I feel like I’m going to do more as time goes on.”
Boutte is likely still battling Tyquan Thornton and Jalen Reagor for a roster spot in New England, though New England could also free up another roster spot if Bourne needs additional time to rest and recover while recovering from a torn ACL.
Boutte took a step in the right direction last week with a solid performance in New England’s preseason opener against the Panthers on Thursday, catching three receptions for 53 yards in his team’s 17-3 victory.
Boutte’s track record has been consistently highlighted over the past two training camps, which helped the 2023 sixth-round pick out of LSU make New England’s roster last season. While the 22-year-old had just two receptions for 19 yards last season, continuing to rack up solid performances in preseason games could open the door to more reps in the future.
“Training camp is going great,” Boutte said. “I’m competing every day. I’m just taking it day by day, opportunity by opportunity.”
New England’s decision to target a receiver like Boutte in the 2023 NFL Draft revolved around potential — Boutte recording 83 receptions for 1,243 yards and 14 touchdowns in the first 16 games of his college career.
A lackluster 2022 season with the Tigers hampered some of his draft stock, but the tools are certainly there with a young receiver like Boutte.
Entering his second year in the NFL, Boutte isn’t worried about expectations or where he hopes to land on a professional team — whether that’s with the Patriots or potentially elsewhere if he loses in the annual numbers game.
“You see a lot of stuff in the media, with expectations and stuff like that. … I don’t really like to create expectations, I’m just going to play,” Boutte said.
Subscribe to the newsletter
Stay up to date with all the latest news from Boston.com
