The Patriots got relatively good news in the wake of the narrow win over the Falcons in Week 9, as wide receiver Kayshon Boutte–in the midst of a breakout year and forging a strong connection with quarterback Drake Maye–revealed on Tuesday that he has a relatively mild hamstring injury, one that caused him to leave the Falcons win after playing only 18 snaps.
Boutte said on the social media app Discord that MRIs revealed he has only a grade 1 hamstring injury, and could even be ready to play in Week 10 against the Buccaneers.
But Patriots fans, who saw Christian Gonzalez miss all of training camp and the first three weeks of the season with what was supposed to be a mild hamstring injury, might be warranted in being skeptical about the Boutte declaration. Still, in the end, even if Boutte can go in Week 10 against the Buccaneers, it’s likely we will see more of rookie third-round pick Kyle Williams in the game–and the Patriots will need more from him.
Kyle Williams Could Play in Place of Kayshon Boutte
Williams played a season-high 31 snaps last Sunday, but was targeted only once and did not make the catch. He entered the 2025 season with high hopes, but as the Patriots’ receiver room has sorted itself out–with Stefon Diggs, Boutte, Pop Douglas and Mack Hollins as the primary and trusted weapons–Williams has been marginalized.
But, Diggs said, the injury to Boutte may well be his chance to change that. Both Boutte and RB1 Rhamondre Stevenson (toe) are not practicing on Wednesday, and already, we’ve seen practice-squad call-up Terrell Jennings handle a promotion to fill in for Stevenson.
Patriots Need Kyle Williams to ‘Prepare to Be a Starter’
Now it is up to Williams to do the same, Diggs says. Williams has only six catches on the season, but the Patriots thought enough of him to let go of the likes of Kendrick Bourne and second-round pick Ja’Lynn Polk this offseason to keep him.
“Everybody gotta prepare to be a starter,” Diggs said. “I know it sounds crazy—I don’t know what week we are, I kind of take it week by week, but preparing to be a starter, you’ve got to be ready to play. Terrell Jennings, stepped up, played well, got his first touchdown, shoutout to him. And just guys across the offense, you gotta be ready to play.”
Stefon Diggs: Patriots ‘Know Who We Are’
Diggs has, for the most part, been impressed by the work ethic this Patriots team has shown, which was on display during a “Good Morning Football” segment on NFL Network in which Hollins pointed out that he and rookie Efton Chism were pushing each other at the facility on the team’s off day.
Hollins said about 30 players typically show up on days off.
Said Diggs: “At this point, we know who we are. I feel like we know where we want to go and what it’s going to take to get there. So, guys coming in on the off day, putting their time in, I’m not surprised.”
Stefon Diggs Sends Message to Patriots Rookie Amid Injury News