Patriots granting Kendrick Bourne’s request to be released

The Patriots lower vast receiver Kendrick Bourne on Wednesday after Bourne needed a recent begin, a supply informed the Herald.

The Patriots parted methods after participating in commerce talks that will have despatched Bourne to the Vikings, in line with a supply. Minnesota as an alternative acquired Carolina vast receiver Adam Thielen after a number of days of reported touch-and-go talks with the Panthers that ended with a deal Wednesday morning.

In response to a supply, Bourne anticipated to go to Minnesota for a late-round choose after being approached Tuesday afternoon about taking a possible pay lower in New England. It’s unclear whether or not the Patriots’ requested pay lower was designed to assist facilitate a deal or maintain him on the roster. Bourne declined.

Commerce talks between the Vikings and Patriots had been additionally sophisticated by a foot sprain Bourne suffered throughout a coaching camp apply on Aug. 1, and the knowledge the group supplied about his restoration. Bourne made the Patriots’ preliminary 53-man roster on Tuesday as an alternative of being positioned on injured reserve, which appeared to replicate his return to well being after nearly 4 weeks of being sidelined. In response to a supply, Bourne anticipated to apply Wednesday.

The 30-year-old vast receiver had been with the Patriots since 2021, when he signed as a free agent after spending the primary 4 years of his profession in San Francisco. Bourne signed a three-year, $19.5 million contract extension in March 2024 after tearing his ACL six months earlier. Upon returning to the lively roster halfway by means of the 2024 season, he completed with 28 catches, 305 yards and one landing.

Regardless of placing his ACL restoration behind him and spending most of his offseason in New England, Bourne didn’t present important enchancment in coaching camp this summer time. He repeatedly repped with the second-team offense and caught simply two passes from Drake Maye in group drills, the latter of which led to his foot sprain. Earlier than Tuesday’s roster cuts, Bourne sat squarely on the roster bubble.

There was some optimism Bourne would bounce again below returned offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. In 2021, McDaniels oversaw a profession yr for Bourne, who caught a personal-best 55 passes for 800 yards and 5 touchdowns. Since then, Bourne has did not prime 500 yards in a single season and infrequently discovered himself on the commerce block whereas enjoying for 3 offensive coordinators in as a few years.

Earlier this week, the Pats lower veteran security Marcus Epps after he requested his launch, in line with the Herald’s Doug Kyed. Epps additionally completed camp on the roster bubble.

On Wednesday, Patriots coach Mike Vrabel appeared to disclaim experiences that Bourne and Epps requested to be lower, however reiterated his main stance that he didn’t need to expose any particulars.

“Yeah, that’s information to me,” Vrabel mentioned. “I imply, I believe that we simply, once more, attempt to put the roster collectively. I assume when it doesn’t work out, you break up with someone, your girlfriend doesn’t need to be with you, and then you definately say, ‘Properly, I don’t need to be with you both.’ I’m not going to get into all that.”

Vrabel later added: “I simply mentioned I’m not going to get into it. It was identical to – you realize what I imply? We’re not going to commute right here. We’re making an attempt to construct a roster. You’ve obtained to maneuver on from some guys. You make connections with guys, you coach them, they earn alternatives, they get extra alternatives, they make the most of them and that’s type of how this stuff go.”