It’s by no means look when an offensive lineman will get extra targets than one among your vast receivers.
However that’s the predicament New England Patriots wideout Ja’Lynn Polk discovered himself in Sunday.
Polk’s turbulent rookie season continued in a 28-22 loss to the Los Angeles Rams at Gillette Stadium because the second-round decide didn’t see one move from quarterback Drake Maye come his means. Eight different pass-catchers recorded at the very least one catch for the Patriots, together with offensive sort out Vederian Lowe arising with a 4-yard landing reception early within the fourth quarter.
Polk additionally dedicated a false begin penalty late within the fourth quarter with the offense on the sector for a fourth down deep in Rams territory.
Issues clearly have but to go Polk’s means, and his Patriots teammates handed on recommendation to him in making an attempt to verify he doesn’t lose hope about turning his season and younger profession round.
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“I believe simply hold going,” Maye advised reporters, per team-provided video. “I believe he’s going to be an incredible participant on this league. He’s a rookie like myself. We’re going to have some good video games as Patriots collectively. Trying ahead to holding him going, and I believe he’s getting thrown in there at completely different occasions and thrown in there to dam some. So, I believe he’s going to choose up some little issues. However he’s an incredible participant, and have to discover a strategy to get him the soccer.”
Polk has simply 11 receptions for 80 yards in 10 video games this season. The intense spot? He by some means leads all Patriots receivers with two landing catches, together with one which got here in New England’s latest highway win over the Chicago Bears.
Whereas Polk’s manufacturing leaves an amazing quantity to be desired, it’s nonetheless greater than what the Patriots have obtained from fourth-round decide Javon Baker. Baker nonetheless doesn’t have an NFL catch to his identify as he hardly ever has been within the offensive huddle. Baker’s finest probability to the touch the ball comes as a kickoff returner.
“I believe it’s vital to recollect these guys are rookies, and typically the expectation is that they’re simply going to return in right here and be All-Professionals. That’s not it,” Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo advised reporters, per team-provided video. “These guys, they work each day and sooner or later they’ll hit an inflection level the place they may help our crew win.”
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Kendrick Bourne, the veteran within the vast receiver room, echoed an analogous message as Maye to Polk. Bourne is aware of how shortly issues can change within the NFL and pointed to himself for example. Bourne was benched final week in opposition to the Bears earlier than delivering 5 receptions for 70 yards and a landing in opposition to the Rams.
“It’s robust,” Bourne mentioned. “Adversity it hits. I used to be down final week, however simply hold going. That’s form of what you encourage him. Simply hold going. You by no means know what play goes to alter your profession. You by no means know what the long run holds, so don’t maintain onto unhealthy issues for too lengthy. It’s not straightforward to do, however that’s form of simply the phrases of encouragement.”
