Who Should I Start? Kayshon Boutte or Jonathan Mingo

Saturday, December 30, 2:53 PM

New England Patriots wide receiver Kayshon Boutte (illness) has been ruled out for Sunday's Week 17 game against the Buffalo Bills. Boutte did not even make the trip with the team to Buffalo. The rookie wideout has appeared in just four games this season, usually as a healthy scratch, so his absence on Sunday shouldn't affect the offense too much. With JuJu Smith-Schuster (ankle) also being ruled out for Sunday, the Patriots will continue to rely on Demario Douglas and DeVante Parker to lead their depleted receiving corps.

Tuesday, January 2, 7:16 PM

The Carolina Panthers placed rookie wide receiver Jonathan Mingo (foot) on Injured Reserve on Tuesday with a foot injury and signed veteran running back Mike Boone to their practice squad in a corresponding move. Mingo will now miss the final game of his rookie season in Week 18 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The 22-year-old second-rounder predictably had an inconsistent first year in the NFL while working with struggling first-round quarterback Bryce Young. In 15 games played, Mingo caught 43 of his 85 targets for 418 yards and no touchdowns. Mingo and Young will continue to work on their chemistry this offseason in hopes of connecting more often in 2024. With Mingo sidelined this weekend, Terrance Marshall Jr. should be active, while Ihmir Smith-Marsette and Mike Strachan should have bigger roles behind Adam Thielen and DJ Chark Jr.