Source: Patriots WR Kendrick Bourne expected to play against Bills after clearing COVID-19 protocols

A merry Christmas for the Patriots, indeed.

According to a source, Pats wide receiver Kendrick Bourne cleared COVID-19 protocols Saturday and is expected to play Sunday against the Bills. Bourne was placed on COVID-19 reserve Monday and missed practice all week ahead of the team’s biggest game of the season. Optimism for his potential return grew late in the week, when Bourne was asymptomatic and remained involved in virtual meetings.

His return should give the Patriots a major offensive lift, after wide receiver Nelson Agholor (concussion) and running back Rhamondre Stevenson (COVID-19 reserve) were ruled out Friday. Bourne leads the Patriots with 667 receiving yards and ranks second with 45 catches, trailing only Jakobi Meyers. Until Saturday, Meyers was the only established wideout expected to be available versus Buffalo.

In five career games against the Bills, Meyers has averaged fewer than three receptions and 25.6 yards per outing. This season, Buffalo boasts the NFL’s second-best pass defense by Football Outsiders’ opponent-and-situation-adjusted metric DVOA.

During a press conference Wednesday, Pats coach Bill Belichick left the door open for a possible return, confirming the 26-year-old is vaccinated. Had Bourne not been vaccinated, he would have automatically been ruled out for kickoff. The Bills lost two of their top four wide receivers, Cole Beasley and Gabriel Davis, to positive COVID-19 tests this week. Neither will suit up Sunday because they are reportedly unvaccinated.

If the Patriots win, they will need only a Dolphins loss at New Orleans on Monday night or another victory to clinch the AFC East. The Pats edged Buffalo 14-10 in their first matchup on Dec. 6, a game best remembered for blustery conditions. In Orchard Park, wind gusts reached 50 MPH, and the Patriots attempted only three passes, while rushing 46 times.

Bourne made zero catches that day, and ran once for three yards. On the year, he’s rushed nine times for 100 yards, both career highs.

Sunday’s kickoff at Gillette Stadium is set for 1 p.m.

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/310ZgUY