FOXBORO — Ja’Lynn Polk’s bid for a Patriots roster spot took another hit Friday night.
The second-year wide receiver suffered an injury on his first touch in New England’s preseason opener against the Washington Commanders.
After taking an end-around handoff from backup quarterback Joshua Dobbs midway through the second quarter, Polk landed awkwardly on his left arm/shoulder. He was evaluated in the sideline medical tent, then taken back toward the locker room.
Polk did not return to the sideline after halftime. Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel said postgame that he had “no update right now” on the wideout’s status.
“He’ll get more testing and see our doctors,” Vrabel said. “(He) wasn’t able to finish the game.”
The early exit was the latest in a long line of setbacks Polk has endured since the Patriots selected him in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft. He caught just 12 passes on 33 targets for 87 yards and two touchdowns as a rookie, then underwent shoulder surgery this offseason, which limited his participation in spring practice. Polk then missed the start of training camp with a soft tissue injury, a source told the Herald’s Doug Kyed, and has not flashed consistently since returning to the field.
With Stefon Diggs, DeMario Douglas, Mack Hollins, Kayshon Boutte and third-round rookie Kyle Williams likely locks to make the team if healthy, Polk is one of several Patriots receivers vying for the final one or two 53-man roster spots. That group of bubble players also includes veteran Kendrick Bourne, 2024 fourth-rounder Javon Baker and undrafted rookie Efton Chism III, who impressed in the second half of Friday’s 48-18 victory at Gillette Stadium (eight targets, six catches, 50 yards, one touchdown).
Bourne missed the exhibition game with an injury, and Baker finished without a catch on two targets, though Vrabel did appreciate his contributions in the kicking game.
Baker, who played just 28 special teams during a similarly disappointing rookie season, replaced injured cornerback Marcellas Dial as one of New England’s top punt gunners opposite Brenden Schooler and registered two special teams tackles.
“I think that that’s fantastic when you have players, especially receivers, that can create a role and that can help you and that can be big and physical and everything we see out of Javon as a receiver,” Vrabel said. “When they can embrace that as special teams players, guys who are big and physical and fast and willing, that translates to special teams. So, I’m excited and just happy for Javon, being able to go out there and contribute. And when you do those things, your teammates get excited, and hopefully his confidence continues to grow.”
Originally Published: August 8, 2025 at 11:15 PM EDT