FOXBOROUGH – With the likely starters making their 2022 debut, the New England Patriots had a pair of surprising players inactive for Friday’s preseason game against the Carolina Panthers.
Wide receiver Kendrick Bourne and starting left tackle Trent Brown both didn’t play in the Patriots’ 20-10 win. Bourne’s absence raised some eyebrows considering that he escalated a fight during joint practice on Tuesday and has had a relatively quiet training camp so far.
Patriots coach Bill Belichick didn’t say why Bourne didn’t play on Friday.
“He wasn’t available,” Belichick said.
However, no matter what the reason was for Bourne’s strange absence from Friday, it doesn’t seem like it’s a long-term issue for the receiver.