New England Patriots rookie wide receiver Ja’Lynn Polk hasn’t had the smoothest start to his NFL career, with drops becoming a recurring issue. So far, he has recorded 78 total receiving yards with one touchdown. However, his 10 catches off 23 targets have raised pertinent questions about his catching abilities as a wide receiver.
Fans React to Ja’Lynn Polk’s Miss Suring Week 7 Matchup
Despite the drops, Polk remains confident in his abilities, boldly claiming, “I have the best hands in the league.”
“I believe I have the best hands in the league.”
– #Patriots rookie WR Ja'Lynn Polk this week pic.twitter.com/aJald77BhU
— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) October 20, 2024
One of those drops, however, had immediate consequences, as it set up a 96-yard punt return by the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 7, leading to a two-point conversion and giving Jacksonville a 22-10 lead going into halftime.
Fans, meanwhile, aren’t letting it slide.
Ja’Lynn Polk drops a great throw on the run from Drake Maye. pic.twitter.com/4zWtQEQU0l
— Savage (@SavageSports_) October 20, 2024
After the failure, a disappointed fan had a straightforward suggestion, “Bench his a*s.”
Bench his ass
— One-Eyed Willy the Pirate (@illwilly77) October 20, 2024
Another one questioned the wide receiver’s capabilities, “Not having the ‘arm strength & hand strength’ doesn’t seem ideal for a pro WR.”
Not having the “arm strength & hand strength” doesn’t seem ideal for a pro WR
— Ryan O'Connell (@ryanoconnell79) October 20, 2024
Another X user criticized Polk for his boastful words, commenting, “So much for having the best hands in the league.”
So much for having the best hands in the league
— Blake D. Moore (@Bcrossover15) October 20, 2024
“Polk is garbage,” spilled another disappointed fan.
Polk is garbage.
— DEI = Didn't Earn It (@Biotchinvestor) October 20, 2024
A sarcastic comment on Polk’s lackluster performance read, “Time for a bus ticket.”
Time for a bus ticket
— Philip Jagoe (@philjagoe) October 20, 2024
While the fans aren’t willing to forgive and forget anytime soon, Polk believes his drops are a minor hurdle.
Patriots Stand Beside Polk
Polk, who joined the Patriots as the No. 37 overall pick in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft, is struggling to find his footing. He failed to deliver as New England suffered its recent 41-21 loss to the Houston Texans, where he managed just one catch for four yards and dropped two critical passes.
These early struggles might have been disastrous for his team, but his teammates aren’t willing to give up on him.
After the Patriots’ loss to the Texans in Week 6, the rookie WR asserted that he’ll return to showcasing what he does best.
New England’s offensive coordinator, Alex Van Pelt, also defended the young talent on Thursday, claiming, “He’s a rookie. They’re all young guys right now. He just has to figure a way to overcome that, get back to focusing on what he can do well, and that’s a lot of things,” via Boston.com.
While Polk might have potential, all eyes will continue to be on him to see if he can back up his bold statement and prove that he’s actually got the best hands in the league.