“I wish I could give you an explanation”

Patriots

When the Patriots chosen Ja'Lynn Polk within the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft, the Washington wideout was touted as a high-level, safety option for a Patriots team that desired to surround Drake Maye with some weapons.

Even though Polk wasn't as dynamic out of the slot as Ladd McConkey, the Washington wideout was viewed as a reliable pass-catcher who can be anything but a liability on a roster.

Of course, the precise opposite was true for Polk in a lost rookie season.

After impressing during training camp while forging chemistry with Maye, Polk struggled to search out any semblance of traction in Foxborough.

In 15 games this yr, Polk has only 12 catches for a complete of 87 yards. Multiple declines have eroded Polk's confidence, resulting in a pointy decline in snaps in the ultimate stretch of the 2024 campaign.

While drafting talented players inevitably involves some type of gamble on the subject of predicting performance at the very best level of football, Polk appears to have achieved an entire improvement in his projected profile after graduating from college.

It's a step backwards that even leaves Polk perplexed at the beginning of Week 18.

“I wish I could give you an explanation,” Polk said MassLive's Mark Daniels when asked about his playing time. “I don't worry about things I can't control. Just keep coming to work every day and doing what my coaches ask me to do. Just keep the good attitude of supporting the people around me – my brothers in the receiver room, supporting the guys on the team and getting ready every day.”

After a gentle start that saw Polk record eight catches for 61 yards through the primary 4 weeks, these unusual declines began to chip away at his confidence. In his next three games against the Dolphins, Texans and Jaguars, Polk had just two catches on a whopping 13 targets between Jacoby Brissett and Maye.

Despite his promise that he had the “best hands in the league,” Polk's problems deepened as his reps waned.

Despite Jerod Mayo's hope to get Polk and fellow rookie Javon Baker more reps In the ultimate weeks of the 2024 season, Polk played just 15 offensive snaps in the ultimate two weeks against the Bills and Chargers. His last catch got here on November 24 against the Dolphins.

In a season that quickly went off the rails, Polk admitted to Daniels that he still has more to provide – while also emphasizing that he hopes to finish the yr on a high note against the Bills.

“It’s frustrating in a way. This includes patience and trust in your process and journey,” Polk said. “It doesn’t always work out the way you want it to. That's not how life works. I understand that things will get better.

“I don't question why things are the way they are now because I know everything will get better. I can't give a time. All I can do is have a good attitude, keep coming here and working, getting better, finishing this season strong and attacking the offseason.”