FOXBORO — One week into coaching camp, Ja’Lynn Polk is persistently conserving a optimistic mindset when there’s loads that would drag the younger Patriots vast receiver down.
The Patriots added six vast receivers to an already crowded room, and Polk, coming off of a historically inefficient season, missed the primary 4 days of coaching camp with a mushy tissue harm.
Polk returned to observe Monday in time for the primary day of pads and scored a landing in his first session.
“It’s comfortable. I’m comfortable. I’m actually, actually comfortable,” Polk mentioned. “Excited to be again on the market, working routes, being bodily. It’s enjoyable.”
Polk wouldn’t even say that it was irritating to spend the primary 4 practices of coaching camp rehabbing an harm when he ought to have been on the sector competing for a roster spot.
The 2024 second-round decide handed his preliminary bodily, so he didn’t land on the bodily unable to carry out or non-football harm record, however suffered his harm earlier than the primary day of camp.
“It wasn’t irritating in any respect,” Polk mentioned. “I used to be simply going via the method and preparing for my alternatives after I received on the market.”
Head coach Mike Vrabel mentioned Wednesday that Polk labored “extraordinarily onerous” in his rehab and that he didn’t discover any psychological errors regardless of the 6-foot-1, 203-pound vast receiver lacking time.
Polk is the primary vast receiver since Professional Soccer Reference began monitoring all of those stats in 1992 with greater than 25 targets, lower than 100 yards, lower than 7.5 yards per reception and fewer than a 37% catch fee. In all, Polk caught 12 passes on 33 targets for 87 yards with two touchdowns in 15 video games with seven begins.
The percentages had been stacked in opposition to Polk final season in an anemic offense with an inexperienced vast receivers coach, however different younger cross catchers on the roster, like DeMario Douglas and Kayshon Boutte, nonetheless outproduced the College of Washington product.
Polk mentioned Wednesday that he got here into the 2025 season with a “new focus, a reset,” however when requested about that new focus, he didn’t elaborate.
“I imply, all the things’s just about the identical,” Polk mentioned. “Working onerous every day, attempting to earn a task, go on the market and play for the crew.”
Polk mentioned he doesn’t “even take into consideration final yr” when requested about his struggles as a rookie.
He appears assured in his effort and preparation final season.
“I imply, I don’t go off the narrative of what folks consider me,” Polk mentioned. “I do know who I’m, and I do know the work that I put in every day to go on the market and assist this crew win. So I’m gonna preserve working onerous every day, you realize? I’m gonna preserve dying going into my preparation and making use of it on the market on the sector. So, yeah, that’s what I’m going to maintain doing.”
Polk was requested what he believes can be completely different about his sport this season.
“I don’t actually suppose nothing actually completely different,” Polk mentioned. “You already know, I simply received my foot within the water that first yr. So now you realize, after I get the chance to get going, we’re gonna make it occur.”
The way in which the depth chart at present seems to be constructed, Polk appears like he could be on the skin wanting in if the Patriots preserve simply six vast receivers. Stefon Diggs, Boutte and Douglas are working with the primary crew, rookie Kyle Williams, a third-round decide, and veteran Mack Hollins are locks, and Kendrick Bourne is usually seeing first- and second-team reps.
That leaves Polk, fellow second-year execs Javon Baker and John Jiles, and undrafted vast receivers Efton Chism and Jeremiah Webb battling for spots. The Patriots may elect to maintain a seventh vast receiver, or Bourne may doubtlessly be beat out for a roster spot.
Polk isn’t targeted on battling for a spot on the 53-man roster proper now.
“No, I believe I’m in a combat with myself,” Polk mentioned. “You already know, I’m competing with myself every day, attempting to be higher than I used to be yesterday. So so long as I received that mindset, I’m gonna be nice.”
Time will inform if the method will work out. Since Polk was a second-round decide only one yr in the past, it appears probably that one other crew would commerce for him if he’s not among the many Patriots’ prime six vast receivers. He additionally may start to face out over the ultimate month-plus of coaching camp to earn a spot on the roster and even as a starter.
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