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Drake Maye offers support for Ja’Lynn Polk amid struggles, concussion
"I don’t think it’s a matter of if. I think it’s a matter of when.”
Ja’Lynn Polk’s already difficult rookie season in Foxborough has gone from bad to worse.
After failing to reel in a single catch during New England’s 32-16 loss to the Jaguars on Sunday, Polk might be sidelined for the next few weeks.
Jerod Mayo confirmed Wednesday morning that Polk has been placed in concussion protocol, with the 2024 second-round pick ruled out of practice ahead of this weekend’s home game against the Jets. Polk exited Sunday’s game in London during the fourth quarter due to a head injury.
But even if Polk was handed a clean bill of health this week, the writing was on the wall that the 22-year-old wideout was setting himself up for a reset away from the gridiron.
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The talented pass-catcher has been plagued by drops so far in his rookie season, reeling in just 10 catches off of 26 total targets.
His issues have snowballed away from the field as of late. After Mayo stressed earlier this month that the rookie needed to overcome his “mental hump” when it came to drops, Polk pushed back against his coach’s comments in an interview with MassLive’s Mark Daniels.
“I’m not dealing with [any] mental problems at all. No mental problems,” Polk told Daniels, later adding: “I believe I have the best hands in the league. So, I feel like my drops, that’s not an issue at all.”
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To further complicate matters, Polk posted a cryptic message on his Instagram story shortly after his latest performance (zero catches off three targets) at Wembley Stadium. The post, which featured a black screen with “…” and a peace sign, was sent out shortly after the game went final but was quickly deleted.
While Polk has fallen into a recent rut with both his play and injury woes, he received a lift on Wednesday from his quarterback, Drake Maye.
“Yeah, I think pump him up,” Maye said when asked how the team can support Polk. “I think that’s the biggest thing you can do, especially for a guy coming in the same class. I’m a first-round pick. He’s a second-round pick. We built a connection early during camp, and during the summer, I felt like we had it going.
“I think he’s still finding it, still working together. It was our only second game together. I felt like we left some plays out there both. Me ball placement-wise, and I feel like he’d like to have some plays back. I think it’s about building the camaraderie. I don’t think it’s a matter of if. I think it’s a matter of when.”
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While Maye and Polk have not forged much chemistry in a game setting, the Patriots’ rookie QB has regularly backed up his fellow 2024 draftee.
Speaking after Sunday’s loss to Jacksonville, Maye put the onus on himself when it came to Polk’s lackluster production over the last few weeks.
“I’ve gotta find ways to get him the football early,” Maye noted. “I’ve gotta get him in the game early. I think that’ll help him feel involved. I’ve gotta make a better throw to him on the corner route on the first drive. Little things like that to get him involved because he’s a good player for us and we need him out there. So it’s on me to get him going.”
While Polk’s availability in the coming weeks remains up in the air as he goes through the steps required in the concussion protocol, a few games spent away from the field might be what the talented receiver needs at this juncture of his rookie year.
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