FOXBOROUGH – Ja’Lynn Polk wants to be on the field, lined up with the offense on every possible possession. He wants to be in Drake Maye’s orbit.
He’s not alone. Kendrick Bourne, Kayshon Boutte and everyone else in a jam-packed receiver room want to start, get open, catch passes, and be a part of the rookie quarterback’s rise to stardom.
“You just see his whole demeanor, and how he can change the game around and the excitement he brings,” Polk said Wednesday. “Drake is one of those guys you want to go out there and give all you got every single play no matter what.”
Added Bourne: “Personally, I want to get better for him … I want to run good routes and try to give him the best target.”
But given the logjam, with seven receivers on the 53-man roster, having everyone involved becomes a difficult proposition for the Patriots.
- BETTING: Check out our MA sports betting guide, where you can learn basic terminology, definitions and how to read odds for those interested in learning how to bet in Massachusetts.
The Patriots weren’t able to unload some of the excess from their receiver room for Tuesday’s trade deadline. K.J. Osborn, Tyquan Thornton and Bourne were names that were most identified in trade rumors. But they’re still here.
So are DeMario Douglas and Javon Baker, along with Boutte, Bourne and Polk. It’ll be interesting to see how Jerod Mayo and offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt handle the wide receivers going forward.
“They’re (all) on the roster right now, and they’re going to go out there and practice today,” Mayo said Wednesday. “At the same time, they’ll have their opportunities, and it’s not about the amount of opportunities they have. It’s about going out there and taking full advantage of those opportunities.”
Osborn and Thornton were healthy scratches against the Tennessee Titans. The rookie duo of Polk and Baker didn’t play much. Polk was on for nine snaps while Baker only had a few.
Guys are going to sit, there’s no way around it. Or, as Mayo hinted, they might find other ways to lesson the load.
“We’re always looking to get better,” he said, “and that may be addition through subtraction.”
The suggests they could release one or two from the group before long.
Of late, Bourne, Douglas and Boutte have been Maye’s primary targets from the receiver group. Polk and Baker are trying to prove themselves worthy, while Osborn and Thornton appear to be on the outside looking in.
Osborn has talked about being the victim of a youth movement. It’s a new experience for him, not knowing week to week who’s going to play.
“It’s different. Different. That’s kind of part of the business. Everybody does it different in different places,” said Osborn, who appeared to want out prior to the deadline. “We’re professionals. Just have to prepare for Sunday – each and everyone of us.”
The team is 2-7 and have eight games to play.
The Patriots want to win as many games as possible, but they also need to evaluate and assess the younger offensive players, namely Polk, Baker and tight end Jaheim Bell.
On one hand, they want to put the best players on the field. On the other, they want to do what’s best to develop the younger talent.
Osborn said he wasn’t sure how that process worked. As for how soon in the week he finds out if he’s playing or not, that’s also new to him.
”It’s not really something I’ve dealt with before,” Osborn said. “I kind of don’t really know how it works myself. I’m kind of learning too.”
At some point fairly soon, if not Sunday’s game in Chicago against the Bears, they Patriots do need to see what Polk and Baker can do.
Polk, who has 10 catches for 78 yards and a touchdown, has struggled with penalties and drops when he’s been in. Baker, meanwhile, hasn’t been active very much.
Bourne believes Polk will break out sooner or later. He’s seen what the rookie is capable of during practice. He just needs a chance.
“Obviously, we all go through things, but I think he’s going to do good this week,” Bourne said of the Patriots second-round pick. “He has a good mindset, a good head on his shoulders. He knows what he has to do to be better. He works hard, and that’s what I love about Polk.”
Maye seemed to have chemistry with Polk during training camp and the preseason. Not so much during the regular season. Polk wants to get that chemistry back.
But he has to take a number. Everyone wants to be a go-to-guy for Maye.
“It’s just competing. It’s a competition at all times,” Bourne said of what’s happening in the receiver room. “The league is a competition. So we’re not only competing against other teams, we’re competing against each other in the room. If we can have a healthy competitive room … I think it brings out the best.”
