Boutte sat out Wednesday's practice due to an illness.
Boutte will have two more days this week to attempt to return to practice before the Patriots decide whether he'll take a designation into Sunday's game against the Bills. The wideout played sparingly last season but has grown into a bigger role in 2024, logging at least 75 percent of the Patriots' offensive snaps every game since Week 6. If Boutte were to be unable to suit up Week 18, Kendrick Bourne would probably slide into New England's No. 2 receiver role.