Pats Pulpit
The New England Patriots jumped to a commanding 27-3 first-half lead in their preseason opener against the Washington Commanders, but they lost a member of their wide receiver group along the way.
Ja’Lynn Polk departed the game in the second quarter after suffering an apparent right shoulder or arm injury. The second-year pass catcher remained on the ground after gaining a yard on a jet sweep, and left the field for the blue medical tent on the sidelines. When he emerged, he departed for the locker room with a towel over his head.
Polk, a second-round draft pick by the Patriots in 2024, ended his rookie campaign on injured reserve due to a shoulder injury. He subsequently underwent surgery and was limited in the spring, but avoided the physically unable to perform list to start training camp.
Still, the 23-year-old has been relatively quiet so far this summer. As a consequence, Polk entered the preseason opener versus the Commanders seemingly in a fight for his roster life.
With the Patriots adding free agents Stefon Diggs and Mack Hollins as well as third-round rookie Kyle Williams over the offseason, and with DeMario Douglas and Kayshon Boutte both looking good as well, he found himself in a fight for what would be the sixth spot on the depth chart. Besides Polk, fellow sophomore Javon Baker, veteran Kendrick Bourne and rookie Efton Chism are also part of that competition.
Chism caught two passes in the first half against Washington, gaining 14 yards. Bourne and Baker registered no catches, while Polk’s lone touch resulted in his departure from the game.
