Patriots huge receiver Ja’Lynn Polk will bear season-ending shoulder surgical procedure and be positioned on injured reserve, a supply confirmed to the Herald.
Polk has not performed or practiced since hurting his shoulder within the Patriots’ preseason opener towards Washington on Aug. 8. Polk performed 15 snaps within the exhibition, catching zero passes and taking one hand-off for one yard. Previous to the damage, he was squarely on the roster bubble after a disappointing rookie season.
He leaves behind Stefon Diggs, DeMario Douglas, Kayshon Boutte, Mack Hollins, Kyle Williams, Kendrick Bourne, Efton Chism III, Javon Baker, John Jiles, Jeremiah Webb and Phil Lutz on the staff’s huge receiver depth chart. The NFL’s 53-man roster deadline is ready for Tuesday at 4 p.m.
After being chosen within the second spherical of the 2024 draft out of Washington, Polk caught a dozen passes for 87 yards and two touchdowns in 15 sport appearances. He produced one of many worst statistical seasons ever by a high-round draft decide, combating drops and separations. Crew sources later indicated Polk was overly onerous on himself and had points overcoming errors.
Patriots govt vice chairman Eliot Wolf spoke to Polk’s lack of manufacturing in an interview with FOX Sports shortly earlier than final yr’s regular-season finale.
“I might say that I suppose personally, what I used to be anticipating perhaps a little bit bit extra inside growth, which is an efficient lesson actually heading into subsequent yr, and you could’t all the time depend on that. The rookie receivers didn’t have it actually that a lot for us,” Wolf stated. “And, you already know, Polk was form of in our estimation a plug-and-play (receiver).”
Since Mike Vrabel took over as head coach, Polk appeared prepared to show over a brand new leaf. Stefon Diggs took the 23-year-old underneath his wing and in early components of the summer time, when Polk additionally handled a soft-tissue damage. Head coach Mike Vrabel appeared to offer the previous second-rounder a vote of confidence on July 30, barely per week earlier than Polk suffered the damage that might sideline him for the yr.
“A participant that labored extraordinarily onerous to get again and to be able to go,” Vrabel stated. “I really feel like — simply my first yr with (head coach) Jim (Whalen) and his employees, and (director of sports activities efficiency) Frank (Piraino) and our return to play, and the best way that we are able to do their rehab after which switch over to Frank and his employees, (Polk) is aware of how we follow and dealing on these abilities and the drills that the coaches are going to have them do.
“So, he labored extraordinarily onerous with these guys to his credit score, after which I might say that there’s been some optimistic issues that he’s carried out since he’s been again. … I didn’t see the psychological errors, which typically happen when you find yourself getting the set up however not capable of go and rep it.”
NFL reporter Jordan Schultz first reported Polk’s surgical procedure.
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