Polk caught just 12 passes his rookie season.
Ja’Lynn Polk’s rookie season did not go as planned. But now back on the field for his second training camp, the 23-year-old’s belief in himself remains.
“I don’t go off the narrative of what people think of me,” Polk said Wednesday. “I know who I am and I know the work that I’ve put in each and every day to go out there and help this team win. I’m going to keep working hard each and every day, and I’m going to keep going into my preparation and applying it out there on the field.”
The New England Patriots’ second-round pick last year seemed to be trending upwards at this time last season. Polk was an active part of New England’s first-team offense and was one of the unit’s top pass catchers.
But things took a major turn for the worse when the regular season arrived, as Polk went on to finish his rookie year with just 12 receptions for 87 yards and two touchdowns.
Following executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf saying earlier this year that the team may have “put too much on his plate” and “stunted his growth” last season, new circumstances for Polk has him only looking ahead about what’s to come.
“I don’t even think about last year,” Polk said. “We’ve got a new staff, new team. The energy is great around here. I’m here now. I’m stepping each foot forward, I’m keeping my faith in the Lord.”
As Polk shared he is in a fight with himself to get better each and every day he steps in between the white lines, he also finds himself in a battle for a roster spot this summer. At the wide receiver position, New England signed veterans Stefon Diggs and Mack Hollins this offseason before using a third-round draft pick on Kyle Williams.
Polk got off to a rather slow start within the internal competition as he spent the entire spring limited following offseason shoulder surgery which then cost him the first four days of training camp.
Returning for the first fully padded session on Monday, Polk caught both his head coach’s attention and a touchdown pass from Drake Maye off a play-action fake in the low red area.
“A player that worked extremely hard to get back and to be ready to go,” Vrabel said of the receiver. “He worked extremely hard with [the training staff] to his credit, and then I would say that there’s been some positive things that he’s done since he’s been back. So, focus on getting back as quickly as possible. I didn’t see the mental errors, which sometimes occur when you are getting the installation but not able to go and rep it.”
Now, Polk will continue to try to stack days in camp and make an impact this preseason in order to secure his spot on the Patriots 53-man roster.
“I don’t really think nothing is really different,” Polk said about his game. “I just got my foot in the water that first year. Now, when I get the opportunity to get going, we’re going to make it happen.”