Texans' plan for Kayshon Boutte: 'Throwing him out there'

The Texans have big plans for new wide receiver Kayshon Boutte.

Immediate plans, not in the distant future.

That's why the Texans traded for the former New England Patriots starter in exchange for hard-hitting safety Jaylen Reed and a 2028 seventh-round draft selection.

The plan for Boutte: to utilize him immediately against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday in the season-opener.

Because Texans offensive coordinator Nick Caley is a former Patriots assistant whose playbook is similar to what Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels runs, there's overlap for Boutte.

"Kayshon is learning the playbook very well and we're throwing it all at him," Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. "He's a smart guy. He's picked up on what we've asked him to do. There was some carryover in the things that he's learning, so the speed of transition is definitely there.

"He's done a great job of being attentive to what we're asking him to do and we're throwing him out there, so let's see. We're trying to go win a football game. We traded for the guy for a reason, think he's a really good playmaker, so we want to see that show up on Sunday."

Now that Boutte is a Texan, he's preparing in earnest for his debut with his new football team.

Boutte has been working overtime building timing and chemistry with Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud. They stay after practice for extra throws.

"It's been great," Boutte said. "Focus on all the details, I think that's big for us. Taking it play by play, understanding the call, understanding what we need to do on that specific play, but just being ready for him whenever he needs me.

"From a receiver standpoint, we just got to catch the ball. I don't particularly see how he throws the ball when I'm running routes, but any ball in my direction is a good ball."

A dangerous deep threat with a penchant for contested catches, including his spectacular grab in single coverage versus All-Pro cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. in the playoffs', Boutte is expected to help fill the void of losing wide receiver Jayden Higgins to a torn anterior cruciate ligament.

The vision for Boutte from the Texans is clear: make impactful plays.

A year ago, he caught six touchdown passes. That's an equal amount to Higgins' scoring total during his rookie season.

The former LSU standout, a native of New Iberia, Louisiana, is excited to be with the Texans.

"It's what I asked for, I asked to be here," Boutte said. "My wish was granted, so I'm happy where I'm at.

Texans Pro Bowl wide receiver Nico Collins remains the go-to guy for this passing game.

Boutte can and should provide a nice complementary presence to Collins along with Jaylin Noel, Xavier Hutchinson and Dalton Schultz.

"No doubt, dude's a playmaker," Collins said in a one-on-one interview. "Definitely, I'm definitely glad he's here. He's definitely a big-time playmaker. We've seen what he can do, man. Just can't wait for Sundays for my dog to go out there and get active, man. It seems like he's right out of that brand of LSU football. I can't wait for him to get acclimated, so my dog can get out there and go crazy."

Yet, the Patriots deemed him expendable and didn't envision much of, if any, role for him in their offense this year.

They traded for wide receiver A.J. Brown and installed him as their primary downfield target.

They signed Romeo Doubs in free agency as their No. 2 wide receiver.

And Kyle Williams' role is expanding.

Patriots coach Mike Vrabel was his typical bluntspoken self when asked about why New England traded away the former sixth-round draft pick.

"One place where we do have some depth," Vrabel said. "I think for all parties involved that was probably the best thing without injuries, you know? Sure, he probably would have been inactive, unfortunately, because it's kind of the way it was. It's just him not playing special teams."

All of that is true.

Boutte, a former freshman All-American and All-Southeastern Conference freshman selection who caught 33 passes for 551 yards and six touchdowns on 46 targets last season, is primarily just an offensive player.

If Boutte is offended or using Vrabel's words and the Patriots' actions as motivational fuel, he isn't showing that at all. If anything, it's the opposite.

“They did pay two guys to come in and do that job,” Boutte said. “Sadly, it is the way it is. Being that it’s a contract year for me, I [wanted] a bigger role. I feel like what Vrabes said in his media interview wasn’t nothing bad. I wouldn’t say I’d use that as fuel. At the end of the day, he sat there and was honest with his opinion. He sat there and spoke his truth and pretty much [moved] forward from it.”

Boutte ranked third on the Patirots in receiving yards last season.

This year, he was buried on the depth chart as the Patriots kept six receivers: Brown, Doubs, Williams, DeMario Douglas, Mack Hollins and Efton Chism III.

They have moved on from several former Bill Belichick players, moving forward with Vrabel guys.

And Boutte has moved on, too.

He thanked the Patriots on social media for trading him to an organization he wanted to be a part of.

And he hopes to be a force for a team that has Super Bowl ambitions.

"Obviously, we know the Texans are a tough team," Boutte said. "Last year with the Patriots coming into the playoffs, we knew that that was one of the top teams we would have had to face on our path to getting to the Super Bowl. I always did believe this team had potential. They're a great team on offense and defense and I think just with this year we got another chance to get back to that. That's the goal."

Boutte, 24, has a significant amount at stake this season.

He's in the final year of his rookie contract with a salary cap impact of $3.6 million.

"I think it's always good when the team wants you to come here. They truly believe in your ability, big playmaking ability. I would just say for me, just doing what I always do, not overthinking it, try to catch everything that comes my way. At the end of the day, I know it's a big year for me, so I make the most of my opportunities."

The timing between Stroud and Boutte is developing fast. That's what he hoped for after building a strong connection with quarterback Drake Maye in New England.

"He's been great so far," Boutte said. "The player, I would say, playmaking ability. He's able to do anything. I trust that he'll get the ball anywhere on the field and he trusts that we're going to be in the spot whenever he needs us."

Chris Gordy