Patriots’ Kayshon Boutte isn’t surprised by Week 1 breakout performance
FOXBORO — Anyone surprised by Kayshon Boutte’s 100-yard Week 1 performance wasn’t watching LSU football back in 2020.
Boutte, who came to LSU as a five-star recruit, led LSU in receiving as a true freshman. And he was on his way to a 1,000-yard season in 2021 before breaking his ankle.
Boutte, who caught six passes for 103 yards in the Patriots’ Week 1 loss to the Raiders, was asked in the locker room Monday if he still feels overlooked.
“I think people fail to realize that at one point in time, I was (projected as) a first-round pick, just before my surgery,” Boutte said. “I think a lot of people doubt that I can do what I do, but, I mean, I always knew what I can do, but some people, it is a surprise. But to me, it’s just it’s always what I used to do.”
Boutte now has back-to-back 100-yard games under his belt. He caught seven passes for 117 yards with a touchdown in the Patriots’ Week 18 win over the Bills last season, but it came against backups.
Boutte said he still feels like a first-round pick, but “we’re in the NFL now, so the pick stuff don’t matter. It’s all about competition. It’s even skills everywhere you go.”
Boutte was praised by wide receivers coach Todd Downing prior to Week 1 for his professionalism this offseason. Head coach Mike Vrabel was also encouraged by Boutte’s performance.
“That’s a lot of positives there,” Vrabel said. “I think his comfort level, and us and everybody and what we’re doing, and I’d say his professionalism, the way he came in and prepared and knew a lot of spots and played a bunch of different positions at camp, which gave him a really good role, which then grew.
“I think the quarterback trusts him. I think he’s got good play strength at the top of the route. So, looking forward to continuing to improve, and happy for him that he’s been able to have success from the spring til now.”
Boutte led Patriots wide receivers in snaps on Sunday. It appears he won’t be surrendering his starting role anytime soon.
