Patriots WR Who ‘Bombed’ in 2024 Makes Strong Camp Return

The big news from Patriots training camp on Monday was that star cornerback Christian Gonzalez had to leave practice with a leg injury, perhaps a hamstring, and there is no telling how severe the injury will be. But there was good news to be had as the team donned pads and ran 11-on-11s.

While losing Gonzalez stings, the Patriots got a surprisingly good performance from a player most presume to be on the roster bubble. That would be second-year man Ja’Lynn Polk, the team’s second-round pick from a year ago.

Polk, of course, was decidedly ineffective in his rookie season with New England, going for just 12 catches and 87 yards on the season, putting his future with the team already at risk. Worse, despite his high draft status, he was not picked by the current Mike Vrabel regime, meaning the current group of decision-makers have no allegiance toward him.

Ja’Lynn Polk ‘Bombed as a Rookie’

Making matters worse for Polk has been the “muscle tightness” that has kept him off the field at training camp to date. But he was back in action for Day 5, and he turned heads with his performance.

Polk had a highlight play–a touchdown on Drake Maye’s final throw of practice–that was described by Zack Cox of the Boston Herald thus: “Polk broke running right to left through the end zone, and Maye spotted him after executing a play-action fake. The second-year wideout missed the team’s first four practices due to a soft-tissue injury and bombed as a rookie. Re-entered into a packed receiver competition Monday, Polk did well with his touchdown and smattering of first-team snaps.”

Christian Gonzalez Out

The Patriots got their first big scare of camp with the Gonzalez injury. Here’s how MassLive relayed it:

“Gonzalez was covering Stefon Diggs on the snap. After the veteran receiver caught a Drake Maye pass, the Patriots All-Pro cornerback immediately hopped up and grabbed the back of his left leg. That’s when Gonzalez called for the Patriots training staff and hobbled to the sideline.”

Gonzalez was examined by trainers before he limped off the field. That lent some hope to the notion he would not be out long, but hamstring injuries (if that’s what it is) can be notoriously stubborn.

Patriots Have Depth at WR

The crowd in the Patriots’ receiver room is well-documented at this point, with newcomers Stefon Diggs, Mack Hollins and Kyle Williams sure bets to make the roster, and holdover Pop Douglas a sure thing, too.

If the Patriots keep six receivers, Kayshon Boutte would be a favorite to keep a job, and there would be intense competition among the likes of Kendrick Bourne, Efton Chism, Polk and Javon Baker to stay with the team.

Boutte has been working out with the first team.

“Iron sharpens iron every day, so my focus is on getting better every day, working towards the best plays and getting sharp every day,” Boutte said, via MassLive.

Pop Douglas Impressing in Training Camp

Probably the most impressive skill-position player in camp, though, has been Douglas. It’s not difficult to imagine a much-improved passing attack for the Patriots with Diggs on the outside and Douglas in the slot, featuring either Williams or Boutte as a deep threat.

Douglas, always affable, said he has been doing his best to help out teammates with the playbook.

“I’ve been growing in the classroom, helping others out, I feel like it’s what I needed for part of my game,” Douglas said. “As I teach somebody else, I’m learning myself. I feel like when I’m out there and I see something somebody else does, I can coach it up. And I feel like I got in that playbook a lot.”