New England Patriots wide receiver Kendrick Bourne is looking to exercise some demons when he returns to Hard Rock Stadium to face the Miami Dolphins on Sunday.
It’s the place that took football away from Bourne for nearly a year as he suffered a torn ACL on the field midway through the 2023 season.
So, will Bourne do his best Kyrie Irving impression and burn some incense to get rid of the negative energy for him in the stadium and create a positive vibe?
“Nah, nah, nah. No sage,” Bourne told reporters Wednesday, per MassLive’s Karen Guregian.
But Bourne does plan to have a heart-to-heart chat with where his severe injury took place.
“I got hurt last year, so I’m going to go to the spot I was at, and kind of talk to (the field), you know, ‘Leave me alone,'” Bourne said. “Just embrace the environment. It’s going to be loud, it’s going to be different.”
Bourne was on his way to a career season — he had 37 receptions for 406 yards and four touchdowns in eight games — when he went down with a torn ACL.
After months of rehabilitation and starting this season on the physically unable to perform list, Bourne returned to the Patriots in Week 5. It’s been up-and-down for him since coming back, including getting benched in New England’s win over the Chicago Bears.
But he responded in a big way this past Sunday by turning in his best performance of the season against the Los Angeles Rams. He recorded five receptions for 70 yards and grabbed his first touchdown of the campaign.
Bourne most likely will be an integral part of the Patriots’ game plan against the Dolphins, but just being back on that field will present a full-circle moment for the 29-year-old.
“My mom sent me a picture the other day where I had a brace on my knee and stuff, like from a year ago. I’m just very thankful,” Bourne said. “It was a journey, and when I think about it, it’s heartwarming to be back. I feel like I’m back to where I was, and doing exercises, doing body compositions, seeing where my body was, I’ve made it to a good point. Just got to keep stacking it up. So every time I leave the field now, it feels different. It’s a blessing to make it off every time.”
