FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — One week after being benched for performance-related issues, Patriots wide receiver Kendrick Bourne is expected to play Sunday against the Rams.

“Kendrick has had a good week of practice, and sometimes you need – I don’t want to call it a wakeup call, but to go out there and be active and not have any snaps,” Patriots Coach Jerod Mayo said. “He’s a driven individual, and he’s a very good player. Just have to get him going.”

Patriots offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt said Bourne was benched because there were things the team wanted him to improve on after New England’s loss to the Titans in Week 9.

“He’ll be a big part of us moving forward,” Van Pelt said. “He brings a lot of energy to the field, his effort is exceptional. So that’s just the way it went last week, change week to week right now.”

Bourne, who signed a three-year extension with the Patriots this offseason, took a self-aware approach to his demotion last week.

“If something’s coming up, there’s something there, and I have to look at it openly. I could lie to myself and be, ‘I played great!’ But they might not think like that,” Bourne said. “So, just applying myself, what I see and evaluate myself honestly, so I could be better. I didn’t think it was that crazy bad, but I definitely could be better, and I’m looking at it like that.”

Bourne has eight catches for 70 yards in five games since returning off the PUP list after suffering a torn ACL last October. The Patriots played Kayshon Boutte, DeMario Douglas, K.J. Osborn, Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker in their win over the Bears on Nov. 10.

If Bourne returns, Osborn or Baker would be the top candidates to see their snaps reduced. Tyquan Thornton was a healthy scratch last week. He missed Thursday’s practice because of a personal issue, so it would be surprising to see his status change against the Rams.

PATRIOTS DEFENSIVE tackle Christian Barmore stole headlines this week with his return to practice after missing most of training camp and the first 10 weeks of the season because of blood clots.

And the Patriots are expected to get an offensive boost before the end of the season, as well.

Mayo said offensive linemen Cole Strange and Caedan Wallace are still expected to return at some point.

Strange has been on the PUP list since the start of training camp after suffering a knee injury near the end of last season. Wallace has been on injured reserve since Week 4 because of an ankle injury.

When healthy, Strange can provide depth at guard or center. Depending on how left guard Michael Jordan or center Ben Brown are performing by the time he returns, it’s possible the 2022 first-round pick will regain a starting role.

Demontrey Jacobs has strung together three impressive games at right tackle, so the Patriots might not be in a hurry to take him out of the starting lineup. But Wallace is likely the future at that position as a 2024 third-round pick. So, it’s at least worth plugging him in as a jumbo tight end.

Cornerback Alex Austin has also returned to practice off injured reserve, though he has not been activated yet.

DRAKE MAYE isn’t the only rookie quarterback making significant strides for New England.

Joe Milton III was named a practice player of the week following last Sunday’s win over the Bears, and Mayo said the Patriots are seeing “huge development” from their sixth-round quarterback. It’s not easy for Milton to get snaps beyond the scout team, but Mayo has seen him putting in extra work behind the scenes.

“He’s one of those guys that, he has to steal reps,” Mayo said. “Drake’s getting a lot of those reps. (Milton is) running the show team and doing a great job there. We also have a period at the end of practice where it’s just like, ‘Call it and go.’ Five or six plays. He’s getting better every day and going back to stealing reps, he’s one of the top users of the virtual reality system.”

Milton has served as the emergency third quarterback all season and it’ll be a challenge to supplant Jacoby Brissett as Maye’s backup, given the veteran’s status as a team captain. Still, it’s noteworthy to hear the praise from Mayo and to see Milton in a black jersey once again as a practice player of the week.