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Patriots Daily: Too Early to Panic About Ja’Lynn Polk?

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New England Patriots wide receiver Ja'Lynn Polk drops a pass in Week 7 against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

New England Patriots rookie wide receiver Ja’Lynn Polk’s struggles continued in Week 7 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The second-round rookie caught no passes in the game. The three balls thrown to him all hit Polk’s hands, but none were completed. Drake Maye threw to Polk on a two-point conversion, but the wide receiver slipped and fell, the pass falling incomplete.



Through seven games, Ja’Lynn Polk has ten receptions for 78 yards and one touchdown. He has been targeted 26 times, meaning only 38.5% of the passes directed his way have been completed. Despite the lack of production, New England continues to give Polk plenty of opportunities. He’s played at least 50% of the offensive snaps in every game, including 100% in Week 5 against Miami (he caught one pass for 13 yards).

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Leading up to the game against Jacksonville, there were rumblings about Polk’s lack of production. He dropped passes in consecutive games before his performance against the Jaguars. Head coach Jerod Mayo acknowledged the rookie’s struggles, saying that it was a mental thing. Ja’Lynn Polk disagreed.

“I’m not dealing with mental problems at all. No mental problems,” Polk said. “I believe I have the best hands in the league. So, I feel like my drops, that’s not an issue at all.”

Nobody should be bothered by an NFL wide receiver with tremendous confidence. But such bravado needs to be backed up. That did not happen yesterday.

How Concerned Should the Patriots Be?

The idea of a rookie wide receiver starting slowly is not overly concerning. In contrast, some rookies start strong and fizzle out. No final judgments should be made about any player’s career seven games into their rookie season. That said, one of the most common criticisms against Bill Belichick was how bad he was at drafting wide receivers. Several rookie wide receivers during Belichick’s years in New England fared better through their first seven games than Ja’Lynn Polk has.

Ja’Lynn Polk must realize that he’s not doing himself any favors with his comments or behavior. After the loss to Jacksonville, Polk posted on Instagram. It was an emoji of a hand giving the peace sign with “God Ain’t Forgot About Me” by Rich Homie Quan playing. What was Polk’s message? Unclear. But if a player is going to proclaim themselves as having the best hands in the league and post cryptic messages on social media, they will come under more scrutiny. That is not something Polk needs. What he needs, and the Patriots need from him, is to start producing on the football field and being a positive contributor to a turnaround in New England. Otherwise, Jerod Mayo can’t keep playing him.

The lack of an offensive attack to start the season was an excuse for a lack of production, but now Drake Maye is in and that rookie needs players who will make his job easier. Polk hasn’t shown that ability yet. Hopefully, for the sake of the player and the team, Polk can figure things out before it’s too late. Fortunately, it’s not yet.

Also in Monday’s Patriots Daily:

Patriots Fact of the Day

The 2024 New England Patriots have one win through seven games. It marks the fourth time in franchise history they have started a season 1-6. However, it is not the worst start for the Patriots. The 1969 and 1992 teams began the season 0-7. The 1965 team began the year 0-6-1.

For those hoping New England turns it around this year, the 1969 team went 4-3 over their last seven games (it was a 14-game season). For those hoping the Patriots continue to lose for a better draft pick, the 1992 team finished 2-14 and selected Drew Bledsoe with the first pick in the 1993 NFL Draft.

Post of the Day

New England Patriots news is getting a bit depressing, so some nice New England fall foliage courtesy of Joe Giza:

More From Patriots Football Now

Patriots Head Coach Jerod Mayo: ‘We’re a Soft Football Team’ – The Jacksonville Jaguars ran all over the New England Patriots in Week 7. New England could not generate a rushing attack of their own. This contributed to Mayo calling out his team postgame.

Ten Takeaways From the Patriots 32-16 Loss to the Jaguars – Drake Maye looked good in his second start. New England led 10-0 after two offensive possessions, but it was all downhill from there. Not many bright spots for the team as they fell to 1-6 on the season.

2025 NFL Draft Prospect Profile: OT Kelvin Banks Jr., Texas – The New England Patriots will look to upgrade their offensive line in the offseason. Could Kelvin Banks Jr. be the player to help them do just that? The Longhorns left tackle is one of the 2025 NFL Draft’s top prospects.

Award-winning blogger, Dan's work has also been featured on Fox Sports, Boston Metro, Barstool Sports, MLB.com, and many other outlets.

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