FOXBORO — In a practice with few offensive highlights and a litany of short completions, rookie wide receiver Ja’Lynn Polk provided some excitement on the second day of Patriots training camp.
Polk picked up the biggest gain of the day, running a deep in-cut against second-year cornerback Christian Gonzalez on a completion from rookie quarterback Drake Maye.
“I’m here to build off this team and bring what I have. They brought me in for a reason,” Polk said Thursday. “So, I’m coming in here every single day and living up to my expectations. I’m not here to prove nobody wrong, and I’m just here to prove everybody that believe in me right.”
Gonzalez, who played against Polk in college while sharing a conference with the former University of Washington receiver at Oregon and Colorado, has been impressed with the rookie.
“He’s coming in and doing what he’s got to do, keeping his head down. But he’s an energy guy. He brings energy, his energy is infectious,” Gonzalez said. “So being around him, not just playing against him, it’s fun to be around and see how cool of a guy and how happy he is. He’s hungry and ready to go, so I’m excited to keep competing with him on the field, and I’m really excited to watch him go do what he does on Sundays.”
Polk was selected with the 37th overall pick in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft, and in a wide open wide receiver room, he could wind up being the team’s top player at the position. He’s spent time with the first-team unit during the first two days of training camp but continues to take everything in stride.
“Whatever they need me to do, that’s what I’ll go do. If I gotta go run with the 3s, the 4. If I gotta go do anything on special teams that they want me to do, I’m with it,” Polk said. “Whatever’s going to put this team in the position to go win games and turn this thing around, I’m with it.”
Boosting a wide receiver group that struggled in 2023 after allowing Jakobi Meyers depart for the Raiders in free agency would certainly put the team in position to win more games. Polk, fellow rookie Javon Baker, 2023 sixth-round pick DeMario Douglas and veteran free-agent pickup K.J. Osborn look like locks to make the 53-man roster. Kendrick Bourne will be on there, as well, as long as he’s activated off of the PUP list. That likely leaves just one spot for Jalen Reagor, Tyquan Thornton, JuJu Smith Schuster, Kawaan Baker, David Wallis and JaQuae Jackson.
Polk was asked if he feels like a rookie. He said he feels like a “ball player.”
“I’m feeling a lot more comfortable, getting my feet on the ground and just having confidence and competing,” Polk said in comparison to the spring. “The biggest thing is going out there, competing every single rep, competing every single day and putting in your preparation. Everything is going to show at the end of the day.”
Polk got some one-on-one time with Robert Kraft as the Patriots owner has visited training camp on consecutive days. The Washington product shared his message to Kraft.
“Mr. Kraft is great, man. He comes in here, he’s smiling every day. I love when he comes in here, and I get to see his face. It’s all hugs, man,” Polk said. “Every time I get to see him, I show my appreciation of giving me opportunities to come in here and play ball. …
“I just let him know, man, I feel like my expectations for myself is very high. This organization, I just want to let everyone know that each and every day, every time I step out here, you’re going to get the best of me. I’m going to leave it all out there every single day.”