Most figured that the Patriots wide receivers would struggle this season, but few anticipated that the situation in New England would be this bad.
For starters, the collective output from the group through nine weeks was pretty lousy. Tight end Hunter Henry, playing in his eighth NFL season, entered Week 10 leading the Patriots in virtually every major receiving category. But poor production from wideouts is only part of the problem in that room.
There have been plenty of dramatics, with rookies Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker, as well as veteran K.J. Osborn, providing a distraction in some form. There doesn’t seem to be anything — or anyone — holding the unit together, and Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer provided insight on the messy situation Sunday.
“There’s something happening in that room,” Breer said on “Sports Sunday,” as transcribed by NBC Sports Boston. “Because Ja’Lynn Polk’s reputation coming out (of the NFL draft) was pristine character. Someone is dragging everybody down. The accountability is not taking place in that room.
“(Kendrick) Bourne was, for the most part, a pretty decent soldier before this. K.J. Osborn had a great reputation in Minnesota. Ja’Lynn Polk came into the draft with incredible character reviews. Like, there’s something that’s messed up in that room.”
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Breer suggested part of the problem could be the “inexperience” of Tyler Hughes, who’s amid his first season as Patriots wide receivers coach. It’s also tough to maintain high morale when the offense looks as bad as it did for New England in the first half of the season.
But with Drake Maye now settled in as the Patriots’ starting quarterback and showing flashes of star potential, perhaps his supporting cast will fall in line.
Featured image via Andrew Nelles/The Tennessean/USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images
