Boutte ‘most likely would have been inactive’ on Patriots
New England Patriots
“I attempted to thank Kayshon as many instances as I might.”
Had Kayshon Boutte not been traded by the Patriots earlier this week, there was an excellent probability that the proficient wideout wouldn’t have been noticed on the gridiron at Seattle’s Lumen Area for Week 1 of the 2026 season.
Even with Boutte’s robust rapport with Drake Maye because the Patriots QB’s go-to goal downfield, Mike Vrabel was sincere on Thursday night time when requested about the place Boutte sat on New England’s depth chart going into a brand new season.
“That was one place [at wide receiver] the place we do have some depth, and I feel for all events concerned, that was most likely the very best factor,” Vrabel informed reporters in Cleveland in regards to the commerce after New England’s 37-13 preseason loss to the Browns. “With out accidents, Kayshon most likely would have been inactive. Sadly, it simply, it’s type of the way in which it was. It’s simply with him not enjoying particular groups.
“And I attempted to thank Kayshon as many instances as I might. I texted him once more at the moment. It’s simply his maturity, his development, his capability to place into phrases final 12 months and share his personal private battle, but in addition the expansion that he made out of that. That’s positively going to have an effect on lots of people. And I do know that that wasn’t simple for him to do, and I inform him on a regular basis about how a lot I respect him for with the ability to do this.”
New England in the end traded Boutte to the Houston Texans on Monday in change for security Jaylen Reed and a 2028 seventh-round decide. In a farewell message to the Patriots posted on Instagram Wednesday night time, Boutte confirmed that he submitted a commerce request in March.
Boutte’s need for a recent begin was probably rooted in shedding his spot on the depth chart on a Patriots wideout room that ultimately added each A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs this offseason.
However New England might have one other inner possibility in place to take a few of Boutte’s snaps in second-year professional Kyle Williams.
Williams’ spectacular velocity and launch off the road make him a viable alternative for Boutte as a go-to goal on heaves down the sector for Maye — with Williams closing out the preseason with three touchdowns in three video games.
Right here’s what else Vrabel needed to say after New England’s preseason finale:
Reacting to Gonzalez’ frustrations
The preseason slate may be over for New England, however one lingering storyline from the summer season seemingly has no finish in sight on the subject of Christian Gonzalez’ ongoing contract talks with the Patriots.
On Thursday, Vrabel was requested for his response to Gonzalez admitting his frustration with the shortage of progress on these negotiations.
“I don’t have a response,” Vrabel mentioned. “I’ve conversations with Christian, and I perceive that that is most likely one thing that’s tough. I’ve by no means been in that place to this extent, and also you attempt to deal with it with class, but in addition … he and I talk. … Our gamers are all the time free to really feel how they need to really feel, and also you simply have to remain affected person and hope that we will proceed to work to some form of settlement.”
On Thursday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter mentioned that there may be nonetheless a serious deadlock between Gonzalez and the Patriots on a brand new deal — even after Seattle CB Devon Witherspoon seemingly reset the market by signing a four-year, $132 million contract extension earlier this month.
“I don’t assume that at anyone level right here that they’ve been near a deal,” Schefter mentioned. “And Devon Witherspoon and Christian Gonzalez have the identical agent. So in a means, he can type of dictate how that is going to go and see into the longer term in a greater means than every of the 2 groups can.
“So Witherspoon was going to get performed first, and it obtained performed at a mean of 33 [million] a 12 months. The Patriots haven’t been in that class, however Witherspoon has established the benchmark, and the Patriots haven’t gone there, and so they weren’t there earlier than, and so they don’t look like going there proper now, and so they’re off on the 2 sides of cash.”
Ready recreation continues for Harold Landry, Brenden Schooler
Many of the focus over the following few days shall be on the Patriots’ roster cuts as they trim the roster from 90 gamers to a 53-man squad by 6 p.m. on Sunday.
However New England additionally must make a name on each veteran edge rusher Harold Landry and security/special-teams ace Brenden Schooler.
Each Landry (PUP listing) and Schooler (non-football damage/sickness listing) haven’t practiced but throughout coaching camp. If neither participant is activated by Sunday’s deadline, they are going to be required to overlook no less than the primary 4 video games of the 2026 season.
Vrabel acknowledged that there may nonetheless be a slim probability the veterans might make the reduce and be activated earlier than Sunday night.
“I feel we’ll simply proceed to see once we get again,” Vrabel mentioned. “These guys stayed again, Brenden Schooler and Harold each stayed again, and so they have to have the ability to move sure issues, as a result of as soon as you are taking them off, that’s type of what it’s. And so we simply need to be very cautious and good with them and never drive them into something. However on the identical be aware that if they’ll do and comparatively carry out the place we count on them to, or the place they count on themselves to, that might be a chance that we might have the ability to deliver these guys off.”
Join the At present publication
Get every part you should know to start out your day, delivered proper to your inbox each morning.
