Patriots WR Kayshon Boutte acknowledges one limitation after college surgery

FOXBORO Patriots wide receiver Kayshon Boutte had two plates and six screws surgically implanted in his ankle after he broke it in college and didn t look like the same performer for years Boutte is returning to form with a breakout third NFL season but he acknowledged Thursday that his ankle still limits him Related Articles Rookie starter returns to second Patriots practice of the week Callahan The toughest test of Drake Maye s football life is coming Sunday Drake Maye s special talent standing out to Patriots coaches teammates Patriots-Browns injury analysis Stefon Diggs among starters listed Wednesday Stefon Diggs explains importance of leadership role with Patriots I think I unfailingly have been a good tracker of the football Boutte declared Before my surgery I was consistently able to go up and high point the ball I think now with two plates six screws in my right ankle I m limited as to how high I can jump So I think just being able to track the ball is really big for me I feel like I m when it comes to tracking the ball I m confident in my hands So I ll really catch it out in front of me and not really to my chest Boutte was a five-star recruit before heading to LSU and was regarded as a likely first-round pick early in his college career The injury plus off-field issues dropped him to the sixth round where the Patriots got a steal