Patriots WR Kendrick Bourne expected to play vs. Rams after benching

FOXBORO — One week after being benched for performance-related issues, Patriots wide receiver Kendrick Bourne is expected to play Sunday against the Rams.

Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo made that announcement during Friday morning’s news conference.

“Kendrick has had a good week of practice, and sometimes you need — I don’t want to call it a wakeup call, but to go out there and be active and not have any snaps,” Mayo said. “He’s a driven individual, and he’s a very good player. Just have to get him going.”

Patriots offensive coordinator explained Bourne’s benching by saying there were things the team wanted him to improve upon after their Week 9 loss to the Titans.

“He’ll be a big part of us moving forward,” Van Pelt said. “He brings a lot of energy to the field, his effort is exceptional. So that’s just the way it went last week, change week to week right now.”

Bourne, who signed a three-year extension with the Patriots this offseason, took a self-aware approach to his demotion last week.

“If something’s coming up, there’s something there, and I have to look at it openly. I could lie to myself and be, ‘I played great!’ But they might not think like that,” Bourne said. “So, just applying myself, what I see and evaluate myself honestly, so I could be better. I didn’t think it was that crazy bad, but I definitely could be better, and I’m looking at it like that.”

Bourne has eight catches for 70 yards in five games since returning off the PUP list after suffering a torn ACL last October. The Patriots played Kayshon Boutte, DeMario Douglas, K.J. Osborn, Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker over him in Sunday’s win over the Bears.

If Bourne returns, Osborn or Baker would be the top candidates to see their snaps reduced. Tyquan Thornton was a healthy scratch last week. He missed Thursday’s practice with a personal issue, so it would be surprising to see his status change against the Rams.

Bourne played with Rams All-Pro wide receiver Cooper Kupp at Eastern Washington, so Sunday’s game will serve as a reunion for the two veteran wideouts.