Signing with the New England Patriots as a free agent back in 2021, wide receiver Kendrick Bourne had a career-year in his first season under offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels.
After recording 55 receptions for 800 yards and five scores that season, Bourne has not been able to replicate that production since. Part of the reason was McDaniels' departure, as the coordinator was named the head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders in 2022.
Now with McDaniels back in Foxboro, Bourne is excited to be reunited with his former coordinator.
"Just to see him has been awesome. Definitely picking up where we left off has been great," Bourne said Tuesday. "I'm very familiar with him, and he's familiar with me. So, it's just an honor to be back with him. We know his history and everything he's done."
While Bourne was a clear fit in McDaniels' offense back in '21, things will be different this time around. The Patriots will feature a different head coach, quarterback, and enter the offseason with a crowded wide receiver room.
All the factors are why Bourne is not banking on an automatic repeat of his first year in Foxboro, but the 29-year-old does believe the path back towards that production is in reach.
"I had my best year under him... but I'm not banking on that," Bourne said. "I work every year. Every year's different. Coming into the year with that mentality but understanding that relationships are big in this league. And if I can build off of that, it will help me in whatever area that is to be better.
"But I love his offense. I'm familiar with it. I just kind of know where I fit in, plug and play, different things. I just try to excel at what he wants me to do."
Beyond being better suited to this year's offense, Bourne also expects to be better now over a year removed from an ACL injury he suffered back in 2023.
"I really feel good about where I'm at because coming in last year was tough. Coming off injury was really tough on me. I actually underestimated it," Bourne admitted. "And so this year I feel really strong, really polished and just banking on that in my situation."
After missing the entirety of last year's offseason and starting the season on the PUP list, Bourne returned to action in Week 5 and slowly saw his snap count increase. He finished the year with just 28 receptions and 305 yards as he worked through the process of reconnecting his body and mind post injury.
Now healthy for this offseason, Bourne has enjoyed being on the field in the team's voluntary offseason program -- where he believes the biggest impact has come in terms of sharpening his on field awareness.
"That was my biggest struggle coming back from injury. It was easy to go through the motions when I'm by myself, but then when there's people around you my awareness was -- it lacked my first few games," Bourne said.
"So, I hope to be shot out of a cannon when I come out because being in OTAs, being in camp is going to give me that feel. I'll have more awareness. I'll know when to break certain things, how to adjust off a defender. Those reps are rare and I never experienced that."