FOXBORO — It seemed like a foregone conclusion that Patriots rookie wide receiver Kayshon Boutte would be active for Sunday’s game against the Commanders with fellow wide receivers DeVante Parker out and Kendrick Bourne on injured reserve.

That did not wind up being the case, however. Boutte, a 2023 sixth-round pick, was a healthy scratch for the eighth straight week as the Patriots elected to dress Demario Douglas, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Jalen Reagor and Tyquan Thornton instead.

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Boutte indicated that he expected to play while speaking to reporters earlier this week saying, “It’s been seven weeks, now my name’s being called. So, (I) just gotta step up.”

Head coach Bill Belichick said Friday it had been Boutte’s best week of practice.

So, why was Boutte, who played 55 snaps Week 1 in place of Parker, still inactive?

“We activated the players that we felt were the best players to put in the game,” Belichick said after the 20-17 loss to the Commanders.

“I thought he had a good week of practice,” Belichick continued. “That’s why I said that.”

The Patriots leaned on tight end Mike Gesicki more heavily while dressing just four wide receivers.

“We activated the other four receivers,” Belichick repeated when asked a follow-up about Boutte. “And Mike. I mean, really, Mike’s our fifth receiver.”

The Patriots dressed five wide receivers just last week against the Dolphins.

Gesicki played a season-high 55 snaps Sunday. Tight end Hunter Henry led pass catchers with 56 snaps, Douglas led wide receivers with 53 snaps, Douglas filled in for Parker with 49 snaps, Smith-Schuster played 23 snaps, Thornton played 12 snaps and tight end Pharaoh Brown played seven snaps.