The New England Patriots secured a hard-fought victory against the Falcons in Week 9, but the win came at a cost. Head coach Mike Vrabel delivered a sobering update on Wednesday, placing the status of three key players in doubt and creating a new challenge for DrakeMaye‘s offense. Just as the offense appeared to be finding its rhythm, Vrabel’s latest injury report threatens to halt that momentum in its tracks.

Wide receiver Kayshon Boutte is sidelined with a hamstring issue and won’t practice. Running back Rhamondre Stevenson suffered a toe injury, and linebacker Christian Elliss also won’t participate due to a hip problem. Losing Boutte and Stevenson in one blow rips two of the most reliable weapons out of Drake Maye’s hands, forcing the Patriots to redraw their offensive game plan on the fly.

Kayshon Boutte has recorded 23 receptions for 431 yards, ranking him 36th in receiving yards among NFL players this season. He boasts an impressive average of 18.7 yards per catch. On the other hand, Rhamondre Stevenson has a total of 279 rushing yards from 83 carries. He has scored three rushing touchdowns so far.

The Patriots’ situation mirrors challenges faced by the Baltimore Ravens in 2015, when they had 19 players on injured reserve. The year when Joe Flacco tore up his knee in week 11, while starting RB Justin Forsett broke his arm in the same week.

If Kayshon Boutte misses the next game, Kyle Williams is expected to see more action for the Patriots.

Head coach Mike Vrabel expressed confidence in Williams, saying, “I’m excited that he’ll probably get an opportunity here, a little greater opportunity going forward. It’s just a lot of different personnel groups and alignments.”

Williams, a Washington State wide receiver drafted in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft, has recorded 2 receptions for 20 yards this season, averaging 10 yards per catch. Though he has yet to score a touchdown, Vrabel praised his energy and coachability, emphasizing his readiness to step up if needed.

Patriots adjust depth chart amid injury setbacks

Besides Williams, veteran wideout Mack Hollins will likely get additional targets from quarterback Drake Maye. Hollins has collected 20 receptions for 217 yards and two touchdowns so far this season, though his last touchdown came in Week 4 against the Carolina Panthers.

Vrabel highlighted Hollins’ commitment and mentorship during the offseason, noting that he “spent a lot of time here this offseason, away from his family to learn quickly what we were asking him to do and all the different positions that we were putting him in.”

On the ground, the Patriots are dealing with multiple absences beyond Rhamondre Stevenson. Backup Antonio Gibson remains sidelined due to a torn ACL sustained in Week 4, ruling him out for the year. To fill the gaps, New England promoted Terrell Jennings as the new No. 2 running back and saw rookie TreVeyon Henderson rise rapidly from third on the depth chart to first in recent weeks.

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Additionally, the team signed veterans D’Ernest Johnson and Jonathan Ward, along with Rushawn Baker, to the practice squad. With key players sidelined, the Patriots will rely heavily on this combination of backups and younger talent to maintain their offensive momentum heading into the next game against Tampa Bay.