Polk is in the NFL's concussion protocol, Evan Lazar of the Patriots' official site reports.
After logging 34 snaps in this past Sunday's 32-16 loss to the Jaguars, Polk was forced out of the contest with what has now been confirmed as a concussion. The 2024 second-rounder will now need to progress through the NFL's protocol in order to be available this weekend against the Jets. Though seven games to date, Polk has caught 10 of his 26 targets for 78 yards and a TD, with drops having been an issue for the Washington product early on in his pro career.
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Patriots' Ja'Lynn Polk: Forced out of Sunday's contest
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The Patriots announced that Polk is questionable to return to Sunday's game against the Jaguars in London due to a head injury.
Polk will most likely be sent in for a concussion evaluation before the Patriots determine whether he's fit to return, but given that the announcement of his head injury didn't come until late in the fourth quarter, it's likely that his day is already over in any case. Before leaving the game, Polk failed to corral any of his three targets from quarterback Drake Maye. The rookie second-round pick continues to see ample playing time but has struggled to get on the same page with Maye and Jacoby Brissett this season; he's hauled in just 10 of his 26 targets and is averaging a lowly 3.0 yards per target.
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Patriots' Ja'Lynn Polk: One catch in Week 6
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Polk, who recorded 43 of a possible 66 snaps on offense in Sunday's 41-21 loss to the Texans, caught one of his four targets in the contest for four yards, Mike Reiss of ESPN.comm reports.
Per Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald, Polk had one drop in the contest and got his hands on another pass that fell incomplete. With that in mind, coach Jerod Mayo acknowledged that the 2024 second-rounder's game has room for growth. "I think he just needs to get over this mental hump," Mayo said of Polk. "You've got to eliminate the dropped passes. You've got to be better at blocking, which he did a great job in college at that and at times throughout the season. He just has to continue to grow, and he has to work harder. He has to pay more attention to the details, and we fully expect him to grow into a receiver that's dependable on run and pass downs." Looking ahead, Polk figures to have more productive days as he builds on-field chemistry with fellow rookie Drake Maye, who has taken over as the Patriots' starting QB, but for now the wideout out of Washington isn't a high-percentage fantasy option.
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Patriots' Ja'Lynn Polk: First career touchdown
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Polk recorded two receptions on three targets for 12 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 23-20 overtime loss to the Seahawks. He also recorded one carry for zero yards.
The Patriots reportedly wanted to get Polk more involved in the offense in his second career game, and that looked to be the case early on. His first catch was also his first career touchdown and came from five yards away on New England's second offensive possession. However, he didn't make another reception until 49 seconds were remaining in the fourth quarter. So long as the Patriots keep the rushing attack as the focal point of their offense, it's unlikely that Polk will emerge as a reliable fantasy contributor.
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Patriots' Ja'Lynn Polk: Makes highlight play with Maye
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Polk recorded two receptions (on three targets) for 29 yards in Sunday's 20-10 preseason loss to the Commanders.
Polk wasn't on the field for the Patriots' first drive, instead getting usurped by K.J. Osborn and Tyquan Thornton as the starting outside wide receivers. However, Polk was on the field for the team's second possession paired with Drake Maye, and the former hauled in a strike across the middle that he turned upfield for a 29-yard gain. Polk also had a nice catch on an out route that would have gone for another first down, though the gain was offset by a penalty. Polk had been working with the starting unit in practice leading up to the game, so even if he isn't formally listed as a starter, he should still see the field plenty Week 1 against Cincinnati.
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Patriots' Ja'Lynn Polk: Pushing for key role as rookie
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Polk and fellow rookie and Javon Baker have been "as advertised" through six training camp practices, according to Evan Lazar of the Patriots' official site.
Lazar notes that Polk -- whom the Patriots took in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft -- has been featured out of the gate with other regulars in the team's offense as a reliable underneath target. With Kendrick Bourne recovering from a knee injury that could limit him early on this season, Polk would appear to have a path toward becoming an immediate contributor in New England's passing game as a rookie. Whether that translates to fantasy relevance right away hinges on what sort of volume the Washington product sees in an offensive attack that could lean heavily on the run. As the season progresses Polk could emerge as key a pass catcher for whichever quarterback ( Jacoby Brissett or Drake Maye) is behind center.
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Patriots' Ja'Lynn Polk: Clear path to No. 1 role?
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Polk could secure the Patriots' top receiver spot to open the 2024 regular season if he impresses in training camp, Chad Graff of The Athletic reports.
Polk, a rookie second-round pick, didn't begin the offseason working as a starter but has since worked his way up the depth chart, and he was a standout at mandatory minicamp. The Washington product is considered pro-ready as rookie, so though his combine workout numbers didn't strongly impress, he's refined enough to quickly hit the ground running and entrench himself as one of New England's most reliable targets in the passing game, especially if Kendrick Bourne (knee) isn't fully recovered from his ACL tear by Week 1. Graff projects Polk to get a large portion of first-team reps in training camp, so if he can translate that into some preseason momentum, it wouldn't be surprising for him to start the season ahead of Bourne, DeMario Douglas, K.J. Osborn, JuJu Smith-Schuster and rookie fourth-rounder Javon Baker, especially if he can establish chemistry with Jacoby Brissett and Drake Maye. As a pro, Polk may ultimately be more of a possession receiver than a deep target, but he boasts the upside to become one of the most consistent options in the Patriots' air attack.
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Patriots' Ja'Lynn Polk: Links up with Maye in New England
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The Patriots selected Polk in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft, 37th overall.
New England gets a rookie wideout to pair with new quarterback Drake Maye. Polk began his career at Texas Tech before transferring in 2021 to Washington, where he caught 41 passes for 694 yards and six touchdowns on 68 targets in 2022. He truly broke out in 2023 with 1,159 yards and nine touchdowns as the Robin to Rome Odunze's Batman, though it's fair to wonder whether teammate Jalen McMillan's injury-plagued 2023 helped fuel Polk's breakout (McMillan nearly matched Odunze's production the year before). Polk is 6-foot-1, 203 pounds, and while he doesn't wow with his speed (4.52 40), he's a refined player that wins with skill and good hands. Joining a New England offense that desperately needed receiver help, Polk could start right away.
