Patriots rookie Javon Baker suffered concussion in car crash

“I’m good. I went through all the protocol stuff, so I’m good.”

Javon Baker has appeared in eight games with the Patriots this season. (AP Photo/Stew Milne)

December 18, 2024

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The 2024 season has not gone according to plan for rookie wide receiver Javon Baker.

The fourth-round pick out of UCF has yet to reel in a single catch across eight games. Add in an Instagram Live rant following a shouting match with a police officer at Logan Airport which led to a team-mandated punishment, and the rookie has gone through plenty of growing pains already this fall.

To make matters worse, Baker landed on the injury report last week due to a concussion, which ruled him out for Sunday’s eventual road loss to the Cardinals.

While it was initially unclear if Baker suffered the concussion during practice or any other football-related activity, the wide receiver said on Wednesday that he was injured in a car crash last week.

“Yeah it is for sure (scary),” Baker told MassLive’s Mark Daniels on Wednesday. “I’m good. I went through all the protocol stuff, so I’m good.”

Baker told Daniels that he was involved in the crash during the team’s off day, with the 22-year-old wideout ending up in the hospital after his vehicle was t-boned.

“It’s been a roller-coaster but I’ve been keeping a straight head,” Baker added. “I feel like I’m good to sum it up. I just have to stick to the plan. It’s not my way – I’ve got to stick to the plan. And whatever the coaches are telling me to do.”

A clean bill of health is a welcome sight for Baker, who is looking to show some signs of breaking out for New England down the stretch.

With Jerod Mayo noting late last month that he hopes to carve out more reps for rookies like Baker and Ja’Lynn Polk down the stretch, the onus now falls on Baker to try and make a good impression at the end of a largely quiet rookie campaign.

Speaking on “The Quick Snap” podcast earlier this week, former Patriots QB Brian Hoyer noted that the lack of snaps for Polk and Baker — when healthy — might be due to their struggles with learning New England’s system.

“You got to evaluate these players a little bit too, but it’s just one of those things, like you put them out there, and they don’t do what they’re supposed to do,” Hoyer said. “How many times did Bill used to say, ‘If you don’t know what to do, I can’t put you out there. You’re going to put yourself at risk. You’re going to put your teammates at risk.’ So I wonder how much of that is a factor in that decision-making.”

Baker has only been targeted once this season, while also adding three kickoff returns for 79 yards.

“I’m very motivated to even touch the field,” Baker said. “I’m just a motivated person. It don’t got to be a catch or whatever. I’m just motivated any way I go.”