SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Ja’Lynn Polk thought he had it.
With 8:26 left on the clock and the Patriots down 14, Jacoby Brissett launched a fourth-down pass high into the air inside Levi’s Stadium. Polk had a step on a 49ers defensive back when he launched in the air between cornerback Renardo Green and safety Ji’Ayir Brown.
That’s when the rookie receiver corralled the deep pass between his hands and hit the turf, rolling out of bounds. For a moment, it looked like Polk caught the 41-yard pass play. Instead, officials ruled that the receiver didn’t get both feet in bounds when he hit the sideline.
Following the game, Polk said he didn’t agree with the call.
“It was a catch, to me. That’s what I think,” Polk told MassLive. “But shoot, it is what it is. I feel like, in my opinion, I think that it’s a catch.”
Jerod Mayo had a challenge left but opted not to use it at that moment. The ruling of an incomplete pass meant a turnover on downs for the Patriots. The 49ers took over and turned that into a Jake Moody field goal and won the game, 30-13.
Polk said that no one told him the reason for the ruling. The second-round pick finished this game with three catches for a career-high 30 yards. Before that deep ball, he hauled in a nice 21-yard pass from Brissett.
“It looked like we caught it, but I guess not,” Brissett said. “It’s just giving our guys a chance. I’m trying to give us the best chance to make plays. They were starting to sit on us a lot and not backing up. Polk had made a couple good catches down the field so just trying to go up and give him another chance.”
After coming off the bench in Week 1, Polk has started the last three games for the Patriots. On Sunday, he was Brissett’s most targeted player (seven). Despite that last target not counting, the rookie said he was happy to show that he’s capable of making big plays.
“Yeah, that’s what all of us have been waiting for – the opportunity,” Polk said. “When we get that opportunity, it’s up to us and try to make the play for our team.”
