FOXBOROUGH – Ja’Lynn Polk lives in an alternate universe where his rookie season doesn’t exist.
It never happened. Or rather, he’s pretending it doesn’t matter.
To recap, the season was marred by injury, dropped passes, killer penalties and simply not getting what it took to play in the NFL.
And yet, in Polk’s world, there’s no acknowledgement that it ever took place.
Speaking with the media Wednesday following another padded practice, Polk prefers to put his blinders on to the past rather than admit he was nowhere close to living up to the expectations of his draft standing – second-round pick.
He won’t even use it as motivation. He’s totally blocked it out.
“I don’t even think about last year,” Polk said. “We got a new staff, a new team. The energy’s great … I’m here now. I’m stepping each step forward.”
While it’s admirable that he wants to move forward, it might have been nice hearing that he had learned from mistakes made in the past and was hellbent on changing the narrative.
Only, there was no contrition. And, if that wasn’t enough to raise a few eyebrows, he said he wouldn’t make any changes to his approach this year.
“Everything is pretty much the same,” Polk said. “Working hard each and every day. Just trying to earn a role, go out there and play for the team.”
Polk had missed all of the early camps while rehabbing from offseason shoulder surgery. Then he missed the first few days of Mike Vrabel’s camp with an undisclosed injury before suiting up for the first padded practice.
Listening to Polk for the four-plus minutes he answered questions, it really didn’t sound like he had learned much from last year’s debacle.
Perhaps it’s just his personality, but there also wasn’t much in the way of urgency going forward.
Polk has to know he could very well be on the outside looking in when the roster is whittled down to 53, but he didn’t seem the least bit concerned about his job status in wake of what happened his first season.
He’s confident in himself, his work ethic and his ability.
He doesn’t care what people think of him in wake of his 12-catch, 87-yard, two touchdown effort last season, playing in 15 games.
“I don’t go off the narrative of what people think of me,” Polk said. “I know who I am, and I know the work I put in each and every day to go out there and help this team win.”
In short, Polk, while polite, was defiant.
Last year, after several drops, he claimed he had the best hands in the league.
What to make of it all?
Absolutely nothing if he proves to be a star in Year 2, and plays like the receiver the Patriots thought they were getting after drafting him in the second round last year out of the University of Washington.
His alternate universe won’t bother a soul if he flips the script, and becomes an impactful player alongside Stefon Diggs, DeMario “Pop” Douglas, Kyle Williams, Mack Hollins, Kayshon Boutte and whoever else makes the team.
If it’s more of the same, he’ll be headed out the door. It’s that simple.
Polk said he was relying on his faith to guide him and move him in the right direction.
He doesn’t believe he’s in a fight to stay on the team and keep his job.
“I think I’m in a fight with myself competing each and every day, trying to be better than I was yesterday,” Polk said. “So as long as I got that mindset, I’m going to be great.”
Mike Vrabel won’t care about Polk’s approach, mindset, etc., if the receiver shows he belongs.
On Wednesday, Vrabel lauded Polk’s efforts to get back on the field.
“He’s a player that worked extremely hard to get back and to be ready to go,” Vrabel said, mentioning Polk’s work with head trainer Jim Whalen and director of sports performance Frank Piraino. “He worked extremely hard with those guys to his credit, and then I would say that 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.”
During the three padded practices, Polk hasn’t necessarily stood out, but he’s made a few plays. He’s caught passes in team drills from both Drake Maye and Joshua Dobbs. And, as Vrabel mentioned, hasn’t done anything stupid.
But he still faces an uphill battle to make the 53-man roster in a receiver room that now features Stefon Diggs.
Polk is one of the poster boys for what went wrong in 2024 under Jerod Mayo. The second-round receiver showed a ton of promise in camp, but went on a downhill spiral from there.
He said he was going into this year with a “new focus, a re-set.”
He didn’t elaborate on what that was, or meant. Asked what he believes will be different about his game this season, the answer was zip.
“I don’t really think nothing is really different,” Polk said. “You know, I just got my foot in the water that first year. So now you know, when I get the opportunity to get going, we’re gonna make it happen.”
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