Patriots WR Kayshon Boutte’s Status in Question for Tampa Bay Game — Latest Injury Report
The resurgent New England Patriots stand one win short of doubling their victory total from last season — and equalling their combined wins from 2023 and 2024 — after hanging on to defeat the Atlanta Falcons by a single point Sunday in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
The Patriots raised their record to 7-2, capturing their sixth consecutive win, and now hold the No. 2 seed in the AFC, falling short of the top-seeded Indianapolis Colts only on the win-percentage-in-conference-games tiebreaker. The Colts are 6-1 against AFC opponents, the Patriots 4-2.
Nonetheless, the win may have been a costly one for the Patriots. In the second quarter of Sunday’s game, 23-year-old Kayshon Boutte who has emerged this year as New England’s top deep threat receiver, was forced to bow out of the game with what was characterized at the time as a hamstring issue.
LSU Star Rising up Ranks in NFL
Boutte has caught 23 of the 31 passes targeted for him by Patriots sophomore quarterback Drake Maye this season and with 431 yards is already on track for a new career high — provided that his hamstring problem does not cause him to miss any significant amount of time.
The 23-year-old former LSU standout ranks 36th among NFL wide receivers in total receiving yards — but in average yards per reception, the 2023 sixth-round draft pick ranks second. His average of 18.7 yards places Boutte behind only the Colts’ Alec Pierce at 20.9.
But Boutte had not registered a catch and had been targeted by Maye only once before the hamstring issue caused his day to end early on Sunday. In the third quarter, the Patriots announced that the receiver had been ruled out for the remainder of the game.
On Monday, Boutte underwent an MRI exam to determine the severity of his hamstring injury.
On Sunday, the Patriots face one of their toughest tests of the season when they travel to Tampa Bay to take on the 6-2 Buccaneers who lead the NFC South at 6-2. Will Boutte be recovered in time to participate in that crucial game?
Boutte Posts Own Injury Update
On Monday, head coach Mike Vrabel said that Boutte would be considered “day to day,” but was unlikely to practice with the team, at least early in the week, as reported by Jordy McElroy of
But Boutte himself provided a somewhat more optimistic and detailed update, posting on social media early Monday afternoon.
“Just got the MRI results back,” Boutte wrote. “It’s only a Grade 1 sprain so that’s a good thing. Shouldn’t be down too long but we working to get back.”
Could be Ready Within a Week
As for whether he would be ready for the game against Tampa Bay, Boutte appeared hopeful but not certain.
“It’s a possibility I play Sunday in Tampa depending on how I’m feeling,” he continued. “But if not then hopefully I’m good for the Jets on (
A Grade 1 hamstring strain is the least serious level of hamstring injury, “a mild strain with very little torn muscle,” according to information posted by the Cleveland Clinic.
The Clinic also mentioned information that should be encouraging to Boutte. “If you have a grade 1 injury, you might need less than a week to feel better,” according to the medical facility.
Here's what the Cowboys could get if they traded George Pickens ahead of the NFL trade deadline: 4 strong offers
Trading George Pickens sounds like a wild idea. But it's one that's been discussed by Dallas Cowboys fans, media members, and content creators. And I don't blame them. In theory, there's a scenario where dealing the standout wide receiver makes sense.
If the Cowboys don't plan to sign Pickens to a long-term extension, why not capitalize while his price is at an all-time high? I'm not saying this is the route the front office should take, as it's my opinion the Cowboys should do everything in their power to extend him. But paying two receivers top dollar isn't something every front office is willing to do.
Thus, out of curiosity on whether or not it would be worth moving one of the Cowboys' biggest acquisitions in recent memory, I reached out to beat writers covering various teams for
Another disclaimer, just in case:
New England Patriots
Not only do the Patriots have a long-term need at wide receiver, the team leads the NFL in salary cap space right now. Considering how free agency is rough and incentivizes overpaying players, trades for veterans are actually a great way of maximizing the value of the financial flexibility.
The Patriots got some additional late-round draft capital by moving on from Keion White and Kyle Dugger, and the team could easily afford the trade and subsequent contract extension for George Pickens. It's the perfect move to make the offense even better/more explosive and to take advantage of Drake Maye's rookie contract. -
Patriots receive: WR George Pickens
Cowboys receive: WR Efton Chism, 2026 second-round pick, 2026 sixth-round pick
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills made a similar splash ahead of the 2024 trade deadline when they acquired veteran wide receiver Amari Cooper for a 2025 third-round draft choice, plus a late-round pick swap. The Bills suddenly find themselves in a hot divisional race with the New England Patriots and while the team has bigger needs than wide receiver, Buffalo's passing offense has gone over 250 yards in a game just one time this season. There's room to improve at wide receiver.
Pickens would be viewed as an end-of-year rental for Buffalo, who covets the long-term cap flexibility and has a big, physical receiver with ball skills already in-house in Keon Coleman. Pickens would be a deluxe option of that player and a physical pairing to win down the field. Knowing the Bills moved a third-round pick for Cooper less than one year removed from a 1,250 yard season, that would probably serve as Buffalo's offer to Dallas as well — the exact same offer feels in order. -
Bills receive: WR George Pickens, 2026 sixth-round pick
Cowboys receive: 2026 third-round pick, 2027 seventh-round pick
Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks are playing excellent football and have one of the highest EPA/plays in football because of quarterback Sam Darnold and wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. What he doesn’t have is a true alpha on the other side. Cooper Kupp is a solid player at this stage of his career, but you can tell he’s lost juice. Tory Horton is a very capable number two in the future but he’s not there yet.
Adding Pickens for the stretch run could put them over the top and ease the pressure off of Smith-Njigba, who has proven that he doesn’t need it. Is this the year for Seattle to go all-in? The NFC is wide open so taking the shot now would be a smart play, and give them the leg up to sign him to a long-term deal.
Seahawks receive: WR George Pickens
Cowboys receive: 2026 third-round pick, 2026 sixth-round pick
Houston Texans
The Texans finally showed some life on Sunday after picking up a big win over the San Francisco 49ers. The team is now just one win away from .500, and their defense showed why it can be one of the best in the league after giving Kyle Shanahan all he could handle. But obviously, they need more juice. The skill positions simply aren't good enough with Nico Collins and Christian Kirk both dealing with lingering injuries that have plagued the first half of their 2025 campaign.
Insert George Pickens, and this quickly becomes one of the better WR rooms in the league when at full strength. Armed with two second-round picks in 2026, this feels like a call that Nick Caserio would have to make, and it would yield a higher ROI for the Cowboys. Pittsburgh only received a 3rd rounder in 2026 and a fourth-rounder in 2027 in the initial trade, meaning Dallas could flip the asset for higher value in this proposal. -
Texans receive: WR George Pickens
Cowboys receive: 2026 second-round pick (Higher of the two they hold at the end of the year)
Final decision
One thing that's clear from the trade offers is that the bidding starts with a second-round draft pick, as two of the offers start there. That automatically eliminates the Bills and Seahawks, who are offering a third-rounder plus a Day 3 pick/swap. To me, it comes down to the Texans' second-round draft pick and the Patriots' offer. Obviously, New England is offering more but Chism's twelve snaps on offense for the season don't move the needle for me one bit.
The Texans, additionally, have two second round picks (one via Washington). They're offering the higher one of the two at the end of the year, which is very likely going to be a better pick than the Patriots. For example, if the NFL season ended today, the Cowboys would be getting the 42nd overall pick from Houston but the 62nd from the Patriots, per
So while I wouldn't do this trade—nor would I expect the Cowboys to—it sounds like Dallas would get a second-round draft pick at minimum if they placed Pickens on the trade block. It would be a tough decision to make, but at least we know that.
