FRANKFURT, Germany — Kayshon Boutte’s absence from the Patriots’ offense has reached international levels of interest.

A reporter from Spain asked Patriots head coach Bill Belichick in Friday’s news conference at the DFB Campus if Boutte will play Sunday’s game at Frankfurt Stadium after the rookie wide receiver has been a healthy scratch for eight straight weeks.

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“We’ll see how all that goes,” Belichick said. “Kayshon’s had a good couple weeks here. It’s definitely trending in the right direction. That’s been good.”

The Patriots ran 7-on-7 drills early in Friday’s practice in front of reporters, and Boutte was with the first-team offense in DeVante Parker’s place at the “X” receiver spot.

Parker didn’t make the trip from Foxboro due to a concussion. Jalen Reagor replaced Parker in Sunday’s loss to the Commanders but struggled. Boutte started in Parker’s place Week 1 but hasn’t been healthy since.

The 2023 sixth-round pick was a five-star recruit out of high school and was regarded as a top NFL Draft prospect early in his college career before injuries, off-field issues and a poor showing at the NFL Scouting Combine caused him to fall to the third day. Fellow rookie Demario Douglas has been the Patriots’ top slot receiver in recent weeks. The Patriots could see both sixth-round picks starting against the Colts. Then again, Belichick talked up Boutte last week, as well, and the rookie was inactive.