FOXBORO — Moments after Kayshon Boutte caught his latest deep touchdown pass from Drake Maye, Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels walked up to the young wide receiver and praised him for his patience.
What McDaniels, who was mic’d up for last Sunday’s win over the Browns, meant in the clip shared by the Patriots was that he appreciated Boutte’s selflessness.
“I was really referring to how patient he is in terms of, there’s a lot of plays in the game where the ball doesn’t come to a skill player, and there’s only one ball and five guys out there in every play,” McDaniels said. “And so sometimes there’s 20, 30, plays that may go by and based on a number of other factors, circumstances, coverages, pass rush, whatever, you know, the ball doesn’t necessarily go your way.
“I was speaking to him, but I could say that about our entire group. They really have been incredibly unselfish.”
That’s been a significant change from last season, when the group lacked veteran leadership and experienced coaching.
Boutte and DeMario Douglas are the only carryovers from last year’s group. The team replaced Tyler Hughes with Todd Downing at wide receivers coach, signed Stefon Diggs, Mack Hollins and Efton Chism and selected Kyle Williams in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft, cut Javon Baker, Kendrick Bourne, K.J. Osborn and Tyquan Thornton and traded Ja’Lynn Polk.
Douglas was asked if the group is more selfless this year.
“Just watch the film and, man, everybody going to block for each other and going to make those extra plays for each other,” Douglas said. “I feel like, yeah, for sure. Actually, yeah.”
Douglas said the Patriots’ coaching staff has built more camaraderie in the locker room, inspiring them to compete for one another on the field.
Boutte understands that within the Patriots’ offense, the ball can go to any wide receiver on any play. That urges players to give full effort on every play.
“I think everybody plays a part in it,” Boutte said. “But I think deep, deep down within, you control that. So, I mean, you can either be selfish or not. But I think everybody supports each other too. So it’s no selfishness.”
Diggs came to New England with the reputation of a wide receiver who demands targets, but he’s been the consummate pro eight weeks into his Patriots career, relaying messaging from coaches and helping to lead his younger teammates.
He scored his first touchdown of the season in last Sunday’s win over the Browns, and the entire offense came over to celebrate with him.
“Everybody’s pulling for each other, everybody’s excited for each other,” Diggs said. “I was just one of the last guys to touch it, so everybody wanted me to get in there.”
Downing deserves a fair share of credit for managing some bigger personalities in the Patriots’ wide receiver room.
The longtime Vrabel assistant is in his 20th year coaching at the NFL level, but it’s his first year as a wide receiver coach, having previously worked with quarterbacks, tight ends and as a coordinator.
“It’s awesome to see those guys celebrate each other’s successes, and I think that there’s an energy that’s contagious to everybody around them” Downing said Thursday. “When they see guys that are cheering on their teammates and not worried about whether the ball is coming to the ball is coming to them, they’re just worried about winning and producing. And it’s been pretty fun to watch and humbling to experience, to be honest.”
Winning also helps. The Patriots are trying to extend their winning streak to six games on Sunday against the Falcons.
