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Ja’Lynn Polk hit the ground running after returning to Patriots training camp, and Mike Vrabel acknowledged as much ahead of Wednesday’s practice.
But how does New England’s head coach really feel about the embattled second-year wideout?
Polk, who struggled mightily as a second-round rookie last season, missed the first three practices of training camp due to a reported soft-tissue injury. But the Washington product returned Monday and reportedly impressed as a full participant.
“A player that worked extremely hard to get back and ready to go,” Vrabel told reporters on Wednesday when asked about Polk. “I will say, there’s been some positive things that he’s done since he’s been back. … I didn’t see the mental errors, which sometimes occur when you are getting the installation but not able to go and rep it.”
Those were kind words, and Vrabel’s comments should be taken at face value. However, it’s worth mentioning some of his previous comments about players dealing with soft-tissue injuries.
Infamously, Vrabel criticized then-Tennessee Titans players David Long and Kristian Fulton after both missed extended time during the 2022 season.
“We look at soft-tissue injuries,” Vrabel said in January of 2023. “We look at those soft-tissue injuries of repeat offenders. It doesn’t take too hard to look and see, you know, Kristian Fulton and David Long, they’re repeat offenders of soft-tissue injuries. They have to figure out a way to train and act like — this game’s played at a high speed. Kevin Byard hasn’t pulled a hamstring since we’ve been here. There’s a durability factor to playing professional football. And we should not overlook. That’s real. There’s guys that are durable and guys that aren’t.”
Two things can be true at the same time: Vrabel has doubts about a player who suffered a soft-tissue injury ahead of a make-or-break training camp, and he’s pleased with the way he’s handled the adversity — so far. Or perhaps Vrabel truly is giving Polk a clean slate and reserving judgment until the end of training camp.
Regardless, Polk’s performance will be among the top storylines to monitor throughout Patriots training camp. And there’s a real chance he doesn’t earn a roster spot just over a year after being drafted 37th overall.
If the Patriots break camp with five receivers, those spots could go to DeMario Douglas, Stefon Diggs, Kyle Williams, Mack Hollins and Kendrick Bourne — assuming good health. Should New England stretch to six wideouts on the depth chart, Polk would be battling with Kayshon Boutte, Javon Baker and undrafted rookie Efton Chism III.
Boutte and Chism both might be ahead of Polk, who still could win a tiebreaker due to his status as a second-round pick. But Vrabel doesn’t seem like someone willing to give roster spots to unproven, underperforming players simply because of when they were drafted.
To his credit, Polk is maintaining a proper perspective while under immense pressure.
“I don’t even think about last year,” he said after Wednesday’s practice, as transcribed by [WEEI’s Meghan...
