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Patriots rookie receiver Ja’Lynn Polk remained shut down after loss to Jaguars

Vaseline October 22, 2024

Patriots rookie receiver Ja’Lynn Polk remained shut down after loss to Jaguars — Over the past two weeks, Ja’Lynn Polk has one catch (for 4 yards on seven targets).Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff

LONDON – It was a forgettable stretch for rookie receiver Ja’Lynn Polk, who was targeted three times but didn’t have a catch against the Jaguars in Sunday’s 32-16 loss to the Patriots.

In the first quarter, Drake Maye took a deep shot toward Polk, but the shot fell incomplete. In the second quarter, Maye and Polk couldn’t connect on another deep shot, and in the third quarter, Polk couldn’t stop a short pass from Maye. The capper of the day was a missed connection after a failed two-point play. He Polk ultimately left the game shortly afterwards with a head injury.

Over the past two weeks, the starting receiver has made one catch (for 4 yards on seven targets). Overall, he has 10 catches for 78 yards this season, but has seemed to struggle in recent weeks, especially after the overturned touchdown call at the end of the loss to Miami.

“Yes, we need more from Polk,” Patriots coach Jerod Mayo said. “We need more concentration. Mayo said. He will be a good player in this competition. I just have to keep working.

“First I have to remind him that he is a young footballer and I am not using that as an excuse,” he added. “But I mean, this isn’t the last version of Ja’Lynn Polk. Just go back to the meeting rooms, get back on the field and get better.”

Christopher Price can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him @cpriceglobe.