Ja'Lynn Polk Injury News & Updates

The Patriots traded Polk (shoulder) and a 2028 seventh-round pick to the Saints for a 2027 sixth-round pick Saturday, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports.

Polk is on season-ending injured reserve due to a shoulder injury and won't make an appearance for the Saints until next season at the earliest. The 2024 second-round pick will get a fresh start with the Saints after struggling as a rookie with just 12 catches on 33 targets for 87 yards and two touchdowns.

The Patriots placed Polk (shoulder) on injured reserve Tuesday.

Polk's placement on IR coincides with a slew of other transactions submitted by New England relating to the 53-man roster deadline. The 2024 second-round pick will miss his entire sophomore season as he works to recover from shoulder surgery undergone to address an injury suffered during the Patriots' preseason opener against Washington.

Polk plans to undergo season-ending shoulder surgery, Chad Graff of The Athletic reports.

Polk underwent a shoulder procedure earlier in the offseason as well, but it's unclear if his current issue is setback-related, or a new injury. We'll await confirmation from the Patriots, but at this stage is looks like the second-year wideout is likely headed to IR. Prior to Thursday's news, Polk was in contention for a depth role in New England's crowded wideout corps.

Polk (arm/shoulder) will not practice in the coming week, Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald reports.

Polk was taken to the locker room after injuring his arm/shoulder on a run play in the second quarter of the Patriots' preseason win over the Commanders. Per Mark Daniels of MassLive.com, Polk is not expected to travel with the team to Minnesota for joint practices, so he'll aim to be available for the Patriots' preseason finale against the Giants on Thursday, Aug. 21. With Polk, Stefon Diggs (knee) and Kendrick Bourne (lower leg) all working through injuries, Javon Baker and Efton Chism will have increased reps with the offense during practice and preseason games.

Polk went to the locker room during Friday's preseason game against the Commanders after injuring his arm/shoulder, Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald reports.

Polk appeared to suffer the injury on a running play late in the second quarter and was taken to the locker room after being attended to in the blue medical tent. Polk is unlikely to return ot Friday's game, and further tests will determine the severity of the injury and his ability to practice ahead of the Patriots' second preseason game against the Vikings on Saturday, Aug. 16.

Polk (undisclosed) returned to practice Monday, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports.

Reiss previously noted that Polk missed some practice time due to minor muscle tightness, but the wideout is back in action, which sets the stage for the 2024 second-rounder to compete for slotting in a crowded Patriots wideout corps.

Polk (undisclosed) wasn't present for the start of Thursday's practice, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports.

The report notes that Polk -- who had previously been dealing with a shoulder issue -- passed his initial training camp physical, then subsequently had what is considered minor muscle tightness. For now, consider the wideout day-to-day, but the sooner the 2024 second-rounder can practice again, the better, as Reiss notes that Polk is facing a battle for a roster spot

Polk (shoulder) didn't participate in Wednesday's opening training camp practice, Jay Pritchard of NESN.com reports.

Though Polk didn't land on either the physically unable to perform or non-football injury list, the 2024 second-rounder is bouncing back from an offseason shoulder procedure that limited him during spring workouts. Following a disappointing rookie season in which he caught just 12 passes in 15 games, the sooner Polk is able to practice, the better, given that the Washington product faces plenty of competition for slotting in a crowded WR corps.

Polk (shoulder) isn't participating in full team drills during the Patriots' current organized team activities, Evan Lazar of the team's official site reports.

That said, Lazar notes that Polk -- who is bouncing back from an offseason shoulder procedure -- has been running routes during team periods of practice with offensive assistant Riley Larkin, adding that the 2024 second-rounder appears to be going at full speed. Once Polk is cleared to absorb contact, he'll look to secure a role in a wideout corps that still includes DeMario Douglas, Kayshon Boutte, Kendrick Bourne and Javon Baker and has added Stefon Diggs (knee) and Mack Hollins to mix, as well as rookie third-rounder Kyle Williams. However, after a disappointing rookie season in which he caught just 12 passes in 15 games, Polk has some ground to make up before he re-enters the fantasy radar in re-draft formats.

Polk is recovering from offseason shoulder surgery, ESPN's Mike Reiss reports.

A second-round pick last spring, Polk got some chances in a top-three role as a rookie but caught just 12 of 33 targets (for 87 yards and two TDs) before suffering a shoulder injury Week 17. It apparently was serious enough to require surgery but shouldn't threaten his availability for Week 1 of 2025. New Patriots coach Mike Vrabel said he's excited about how Polk has approached his rehabilitation and focused on lower-body strength in the meantime. Once healthy, Polk will compete for playing time with new additions Stefon Diggs (ACL tear) and Mack Hollins, as well as 2025 holdovers DeMario Douglas, Kayshon Boutte, Kendrick Bourne and Javon Walker.

Polk (shoulder) was placed on injured reserve Saturday, Chris Mason of The Springfield Republican reports.

Polk had already been ruled out Friday, so the transaction is just meant to help the team sign a player to the active roster for the final game of the season. The 2024 second-round pick was a dramatic disappointment given the wide receivers taken after the rookie as Polk finished with just 12 receptions for 87 yards and two touchdowns despite playing 15 games and 412 offensive snaps during those contests. The Patriots are expected to aggressively add to their wide receiver room, and it wouldn't be a surprise to see Polk way down the pass-catching hierarchy entering the 2025 campaign.

Polk (shoulder) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Bills, Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald reports.

Polk was the No. 37 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft and posted a miserable rookie season, finishing the year with 12 catches for 87 yards and two touchdowns on 33 targets. After opening the season as a starter, Polk fell behind Kayshon Boutte, DeMario Douglas and Kendrick Bourne on the depth chart. At 0.35 yards per route run as a rookie, Polk was dead last among 111 qualifying wide receivers.

Polk (shoulder) did not participate at practice Thursday, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports.

For the second straight day, Polk was unable to practice due to a shoulder issue he presumably picked up in Week 17 versus the Chargers. He'll probably have to practice Friday to have any chance to play in Week 18 versus the Bills.

Polk (shoulder) didn't practice Wednesday.

Polk appears to have picked up a shoulder injury in the Patriots' Week 17 loss to the Chargers, despite logging 20 offensive snaps and failing to catch his only target. The 2024 second-round pick from Washington has seen his production drop significantly since Week 7, recording just two catches for nine yards and one touchdown over his last nine games. Regardless, Polk likely needs to upgrade to at least limited participation Thursday or Friday in order to play in the Week 18 matchup against the Bills.

Polk was on the field for 20 of a possible 51 snaps on offense in Sunday's 30-17 loss to the Cardinals, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports.

The 2024 second-rounder, who was out-snapped Sunday by fellow WRs Kayshon Boutte (45) DeMario Douglas (31) and Kendrick Bourne (27), didn't catch his only target in Week 15. With just 12 catches (on 32 targets) for 87 yards and two TDs in 13 games thus far, Polk remains off the fantasy re-draft radar as the Patriots' stretch run approaches.

Polk logged 20 of a possible 72 snaps on offense in Sunday's 25-24 loss to the Colts, per Mike Reiss of ESPN.com.

Polk -- who didn't haul in his only target Sunday -- continues to work behind Kayshon Boutte, DeMario Douglas and Kendrick Bourne, a context that has limited the rookie's fantasy upside of late. While it's possible that the team looks to get Polk more involved down the stretch following a Week 14 bye, for now he's off the lineup radar.

Polk was on the field for 23 of a possible 69 snaps on offense in Sunday's 34-15 loss to the Dolphins, per Mike Reiss of ESPN.com.

Once again, Polk was out-snapped by Kayshon Boutte (60), DeMario Douglas (47) and Kendrick Bourne (41). In the process, the 2024 second-rounder caught one of his two targets for seven yards. With that in mind, Polk is off the fantasy radar in re-draft formats until or unless he's able to reclaim a steady role in New England's offense.

Polk logged 31 of a possible 76 snaps on offense in Sunday's 28-22 loss to the Rams, per Mike Reiss of ESPN.com.

Polk -- who was out-snapped by Kayshon Boutte (73), DeMario Douglas (43) and Kendrick Bourne (36) -- wasn't targeted in the contest. With just 11 catches for 80 yards and two TDs on 28 targets through 10 games to date, Polk is off the fantasy radar for now, though as the season continues to progress, the 2024 second-rounder could become more involved in the Patriots offense.

Polk, who was on the field for 26 of a possible 64 snaps on offense in Sunday's 19-3 win over the Bears, per Mike Reiss of ESPN.com, caught his only target in the contest for a two-yard TD.

Polk, who was in the Patriots' starting alignment along with fellow wideout Kayshon Boutte, continues to see limited volume in New England's offense, which limits his current fantasy lineup utility. That said, his usage going forward is worth monitoring, as it's plausible that the 2024 second-rounder could pick up the pace in terms of his production as the season rolls along.

Polk logged nine of a possible 69 snaps on offense in Sunday's 20-17 overtime loss to the Titans, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports.

Polk, who was inactive in Week 8 due to a concussion, returned to the mix Sunday but saw limited playing time and didn't catch his only target. He's behind DeMario Douglas, Kayshon Boutte and Kendrick Bourne in the Patriots' wideout pecking order, making Polk an unreliable fantasy lineup option.

Polk (concussion) doesn't carry an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Titans.

Polk was inactive for past Sunday's game against the Jets, but after practicing fully both Thursday and Friday, he's been cleared for Week 9 action. However, while returning to a New England wideout corps that features DeMario Douglas, Kayshon Boutte and Kendrick Bourne, Polk profile as a hit-or-miss fantasy option versus Tennessee. Through seven games to date, the 2024 second-rounder has recorded 10 catches for 78 yards and a touchdown on 26 targets.

Polk (concussion) practiced fully Thursday.

After being limited Wednesday, Polk upgraded to full participation a day later, which has the 2024 second-rounder trending in the right direction ahead of Sunday's game against the Titans. If cleared for Week 9 action, Polk would profile as a hit-or-miss fantasy option in a New England wideout corps that features DeMario Douglas, Kayshon Boutte and Kendrick Bourne.

Polk (concussion) was limited at practice Wednesday.

Polk didn't practice ahead the Patriots' win over the Jets this past Sunday, but the wideout's ability to practice Wednesday indicates that he's progressing through the NFL's concussion protocol. If the 2024 second-rounder -- who's had issues with drops this season -- is available Sunday against the Titans, he'd be a speculative lineup option in Week 9, with DeMario Douglas, Kayshon Boutte and Kendrick Bourne also in New England's wideout mix.

Polk (concussion) was present for practice Wednesday, Evan Lazar of the Patriots' official site reports.

Polk didn't practice ahead of Week 8 action, so his presence for Wednesday's session bodes well for his chances of being cleared to play Sunday against the Titans. If Polk is available this weekend, however, his role versus Tennessee would be TBD, given that the 2024 second-rounder has had drop issues this season, resulting in him recording in a 10/78/1 stat line on 26 targets through seven games.

Polk (concussion) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Jets, Mike Dussault of the Patriots' official site reports.

Polk, who was unable to practice this week, will thus target a potential return to action Nov. 3 against the Titans. In his absence this weekend, DeMario Douglas, Kayshon Boutte and Kendrick Bourne figure to lead the Patriots' Week 8 WR corps, with K.J. Osborn and Tyquan Thornton mixing in.

Polk (concussion) remained sidelined at practice Thursday, Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald reports.

After missing Wednesday's session, Polk now has one more chance to practice ahead of Sunday's game against the Jets. If the 2024 second-rounder is unavailable this weekend, DeMario Douglas, Kayshon Boutte and Kendrick Bourne would be in line to lead the Patriots' Week 8 wideout corps.

Polk is in the NFL's concussion protocol, Evan Lazar of the Patriots' official site reports.

After logging 34 snaps in this past Sunday's 32-16 loss to the Jaguars, Polk was forced out of the contest with what has now been confirmed as a concussion. The 2024 second-rounder will now need to progress through the NFL's protocol in order to be available this weekend against the Jets. Though seven games to date, Polk has caught 10 of his 26 targets for 78 yards and a TD, with drops having been an issue for the Washington product early on in his pro career.

The Patriots announced that Polk is questionable to return to Sunday's game against the Jaguars in London due to a head injury.

Polk will most likely be sent in for a concussion evaluation before the Patriots determine whether he's fit to return, but given that the announcement of his head injury didn't come until late in the fourth quarter, it's likely that his day is already over in any case. Before leaving the game, Polk failed to corral any of his three targets from quarterback Drake Maye. The rookie second-round pick continues to see ample playing time but has struggled to get on the same page with Maye and Jacoby Brissett this season; he's hauled in just 10 of his 26 targets and is averaging a lowly 3.0 yards per target.

Polk, who recorded 43 of a possible 66 snaps on offense in Sunday's 41-21 loss to the Texans, caught one of his four targets in the contest for four yards, Mike Reiss of ESPN.comm reports.

Per Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald, Polk had one drop in the contest and got his hands on another pass that fell incomplete. With that in mind, coach Jerod Mayo acknowledged that the 2024 second-rounder's game has room for growth. "I think he just needs to get over this mental hump," Mayo said of Polk. "You've got to eliminate the dropped passes. You've got to be better at blocking, which he did a great job in college at that and at times throughout the season. He just has to continue to grow, and he has to work harder. He has to pay more attention to the details, and we fully expect him to grow into a receiver that's dependable on run and pass downs." Looking ahead, Polk figures to have more productive days as he builds on-field chemistry with fellow rookie Drake Maye, who has taken over as the Patriots' starting QB, but for now the wideout out of Washington isn't a high-percentage fantasy option.

Polk was on the field for all 60 of the Patriots' snaps on offense in Sunday's 15-10 loss to the Dolphins, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports.

Though the final box score shows Polk catching one of his six target for 13 yards, it's worth noting that the wideout's apparent 12-yard TD catch with 1:08 remaining in the contest was overturned (via application of the 'toe-heel' rule) after instant-replay review. Over his last two games, Polk has seen his snaps increase and has been targeted 13 times. Though that's only resulted in a combined four catches for 43 yards in that span, the 2024 second-rounder is a player who could pick up the pace in the coming weeks, if the Patriots passing game gains more consistency helmed by either veteran QB Jacoby Brissettor rookie first-rounder Drake Maye.

Polk turned seven targets into three receptions for 30 yards in Sunday's 30-13 loss to the 49ers.

Polk didn't produce a strong fantasy line by any means, but he led the team in targets while nearly doubling the output from his first three games in Sunday's loss. The rookie wideout has eight receptions for 61 yards and a touchdown through four games. Polk should continue to get looks and develop on a dismal New England offense this season, continuing with Sunday's tilt against Miami in Week 5.

Polk was on the field for 26 of the Patriots' 52 snaps on offense in Thursday's 24-3 loss to the Jets, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports.

Polk, who caught both of his targets in the contest for 13 yards, was out-snapped Thursday by both DeMario Douglas (43 snaps) and K.J. Osborn (39 snaps). With five catches on six targets for 31 yards and a TD through his first three games as a pro, Polk's initial fantasy impact has been modest. Down the road, however, his production could pick up once the Patriots offense gains more consistency.

Polk recorded two receptions on three targets for 12 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 23-20 overtime loss to the Seahawks. He also recorded one career for zero yards.

The Patriots reportedly wanted to get Polk more involved in the offense in his second career game and that looked to be the case early on. His first catch was also his first career touchdown and came from five yards away on New England's second offensive possession. However, he didn't make another reception until 49 seconds were remaining in the fourth quarter. So long as the Patriots keep the rushing attack as the focal point of their offense, it's unlikely that Polk will emerge as a reliable fantasy contributor.

Polk is expected to see added work in Sunday's game against the Seahawks, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports.

Polk logged 35 of the Patriots' 65 snaps on offense in the team's season-opening win over the Bengals last Sunday, however coach Jerod Mayo indicated that the 2024 second-rounder is poised to see more action in Week 2. Also in the mix for snaps versus Seattle are DeMario Douglas, K.J. Osborn, Tyquan Thornton and Javon Baker, but it appears as though Polk will be more involved this time around after catching his only target for six yards in his NFL regular-season debut.

Polk was on the field for 35 of a possible 65 snaps on offense in the Patriots' 16-10 season-opening win over the Bengals on Sunday, en route to catching his only target for six yards, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports.

The Patriots opened up with a starting alignment of DeMario Douglas (39 snaps) , K.J. Osborn (40 snaps) and Tyquan Thornton (38 snaps) on Sunday, but Polk also saw his share of field time in his NFL regular-season debut. As the season rolls along we'd expect Polk's involvement in the passing game to increase, but for the time being he's a speculative fantasy lineup option.

Polk recorded two receptions on three targets for 29 yards in Sunday's 20-10 preseason loss to the Commanders.

Polk wasn't on the field for the Patriots' first drive, instead usurped by K.J. Osborn and Tyquan Thornton as the starting outside wide receivers. However, Polk was on the field for the team's second possession paired with Drake Maye, and he hauled in a strike across the middle that he turned upfield for a 29-yard gain. He also had a nice catch on an out route that would have gone for another first down, though the gain was offset by a penalty. Polk had been working with the starting unit in practice leading up to the game, so even if he isn't formally listed as a starter he should still see the field plenty in Week 1 against Cincinnati.

Polk has been a regular presence on the first-team offense at practice this week, according to Doug Kyed of The Boston Herald.

Polk saw almost all of his playing time with the second-string offense in New England's first two preseason games, but that's not necessarily a bad thing given that it allowed him to work with QB Drake Maye rather than Jacoby Brissett. It's possible both Maye and Polk end up starting Week 1 against the Bengals, and there's not much question they'll end up working together at some point this season even if it doesn't materialize for the opener. The Patriots took Maye with the third overall pick in April and then got Polk at No. 37. Polk caught five of six targets in the first two preseason games, but for only 20 yards.

Polk caught two of his three targets for six yards in Thursday's 14-13 preseason loss to the Eagles.

Polk, who logged 26 snaps versus Philadelphia, posted modest stats in the contest, but the 2024 second-rounder did display some run-after-the-catch ability while shedding a pair of would-be tacklers on a six-yard completion from QB Drake Maye in the second quarter. As Week 1 approaches, Polk is candidate to secure a key role in the Patriots' passing attack, but whether that translates to initial fantasy relevance hinges on both his early-season workload, as well as how heavily the team leans on the run amidst its transition at quarterback.

Polk secured all three targets for 14 yards in the Patriots' 17-3 preseason win over the Panthers on Thursday.

Polk made his first professional catch for three yards with 4:41 remaining in the first quarter on a pass from Bailey Zappe, going on to add six- and five-yard grabs while playing deep into the second quarter. The second-round pick's debut performance was reminiscent of the consistency he's reportedly shown in training camp practices, and Polk should continue to see ample playing time in Week 2 of preseason against the Eagles next Thursday night.

Polk and fellow rookie and Javon Baker have been "as advertised" through six training camp practices, according to Evan Lazar of the Patriots' official site.

Lazar notes that Polk, who the Patriots took in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft, has been featured out of the gate with other regulars in the team's offense as a reliable underneath target. With Kendrick Bourne recovering from a knee injury that could limit him early on this season, Polk would appear to have a path toward becoming an immediate contributor in New England's passing game as a rookie. Whether that translates to fantasy relevance from the get-go hinges on what sort of volume the Washington product sees in an attack that could lean to the run, but as the season progresses Polk could emerge as key pass-catcher for whichever QB ( Jacoby Brissett or Drake Maye) is behind center.

Polk and fellow rookie and Javon Baker have been "as advertised" through six training camp practices, according to Evan Lazar of the Patriots' official site.

Lazar notes that Polk, who the Patriots took in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft, has been featured out of the gate with other regulars in the team's offense as a reliable underneath target. With Kendrick Bourne recovering from a knee injury that could limit him early on this season, Polk would appear to have a path toward becoming an immediate contributor in New England's passing game as a rookie. Whether that translates to fantasy relevance from the get-go hinges on what sort of volume the Washington product sees in an attack that could lean to the run, but as the season progresses Polk could emerge as key pass-catcher for whichever QB ( Jacoby Brissett or Drake Maye) is behind center.

Polk could secure the Patriots' top receiver spot to open the 2024 regular season if he impresses in training camp, Chad Graff of The Athletic reports.

Polk, a rookie second-round pick, didn't begin the offseason working as a starter but has since worked his way up the depth chart, and he was a standout of mandatory minicamp. The Washington product is considered pro-ready as rookie, so though his combine workout numbers didn't strongly impress, he's refined enough to quickly hit the ground running and entrench himself as one of New England's most reliably targets in the passing game, especially if Kendrick Bourne (knee) isn't fully recovered from his ACL tear by Week 1. Graff projects Polk to get a large portion of first-team reps in training camp, so if he can translate that into some preseason momentum, it wouldn't be surprising for him to start the season ahead of Bourne, DeMario Douglas, K.J. Osborn, JuJu Smith-Schuster and rookie fourth-rounder Javon Baker, especially if he can establish chemistry with Jacoby Brissett and Drake Maye. As a pro Polk may ultimately be as more of a possession receiver than a deep target, but he boasts the upside to become t

Polk was one of New England's standouts at June minicamp, according to Phil Perry of NBC Sports.

It sounds like he mostly caught passes from Jacoby Brissett, but there was also a rookie-to-rookie connection on the final play of minicamp when Drake Maye hit Polk for a practice-ending touchdown. Polk reportedly has been quick to learn OC Alex Van Pelt's playbook, and Perry suggests that Patriots brass believes the rookie has high-end physical skills (even though his combine workout numbers were mediocre, including a 4.52 40). While many viewed Polk as a draft reach at 37th overall, he's got a nice opportunity to earn immediate playing time in a New England offense where all the WR roles seem up for grabs.