FOXBOROUGH — Kayshon Boutte’s on-field growth has been obvious.
The third-year Patriots wideout is caught another 39-yard touchdown in Sunday’s 31-13 win over the Titans. It was his fourth of the season, which is more than his first two years in Foxborough combined, and Boutte is also on pace to set career highs in receptions and receiving yards.
Mike Vrabel has seen the 23-year-old receiver mature behind the scenes, too.
“He’s a better communicator,” Vrabel said on Monday. “Whether that’s anything that he has to deal with outside of work or outside of football, family, or just talking in the building, I think that’s improved. Just his communication.
“He’s a pretty personal, private guy. I think as he begins to trust us more — trust (wide receivers coach) Todd (Downing) or myself or any of the coaches, that’s gotten better. And then he’s worked extremely hard."
Between the whistles, Boutte has become one of Drake Maye’s most reliable targets. He’s caught 80% of the passes thrown his way and Maye’s 140.2 passer rating when targeting Boutte is the second best mark for any wideout in the league.
“We’ve been working on it, too. I don’t know if any of you are surprised or anything like that,” Boutte said in Tennessee. “Great receiving play. Great quarterback play. It all goes back to trust. He trusts that I’m going to be in the spot he needs me to be, and I trust that the ball is going to be where it needs to be.”
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