If Ja'Lynn Polk is going to turn his NFL career around after a disappointing rookie season, it's going to have to wait another year.
As first reported by NFL insider Jordan Schultz, Polk will miss the entire 2025 season due to a shoulder injury that requires surgery. Polk suffered the injury in Week 1 of the preseason.
The Patriots drafted Polk out of the University of Washington in the second round, 37th overall, in 2024 with the expectation that he would be a weapon who could grow alongside quarterback Drake Maye. Polk, however, ended up catching just 12 passes for 87 yards in 15 games as a rookie, sparking fears that he was yet another New England bust at the wide receiver position.
Those concerns were only exacerbated by the fact that the Patriots had traded down from 34 to 37 before making the pick, and watched the Los Angeles Chargers draft fellow wide receiver Ladd McConkey at 34. McConkey, in stark contrast to Polk, had a spectacular rookie season, catching 82 passes for 1,149 yards and seven touchdowns.
And now, Polk won't even be on the field in 2025. He may have been trending towards not making the team anyways, as the Patriots' crowded receiver room also includes Stefon Diggs, DeMario Douglas, Kayshon Boutte, Mack Hollins, Kyle Williams, Kendrick Bourne, Javon Baker and Efton Chism.
According to Schultz, Polk is expected to make a full recovery ahead of the 2026 season. Whether that season will be spent in New England will be a question for a future date.