Patriots Make Late-Season Change For Struggling Rookie Wideout

The Patriots are hoping Ja’Lynn Polk can end his rookie season strong under the tutelage of a veteran receiver.

It’s been a tough campaign for Polk, who was surrounded by high expectations when New England selected him 37th overall this past spring. Those projections haven’t been met, as Polk only caught 12 passes for 87 yards with a pair of touchdowns through his first 11 games.

But Drake Maye and company haven’t lost faith in the 22-year-old, and they continue looking for ways to galvanize him. The most recent tactic was a locker change which put Polk right next to eighth-year pro Kendrick Bourne.

“It’s like Jacoby (Brissett) being next to Drake, the vet and the rookie, and it’s kind of the same thing here,” Bourne told reporters, per ESPN’s Mike Reiss. “To be close to him, I’m going to keep encouraging him, speaking gems to him, speaking life into him. I don’t know if they do it on purpose, but things happen like they’re supposed to happen.”

Sunday could present Polk with an opportunity for a breakout performance, as the visiting Colts rank in the bottom six of the NFL in passing yards allowed per game. And if Polk does go off against Indianapolis on Sunday, Bourne could be in part to thank.