The NFL regular season draws close, and the latest injury updates are leaking out. NFL Insider Albert Breer issued a damning report on New England Patriots free agent acquisition WR JuJu Smith-Schuster.
JuJu Smith-Schuster Suffering From Knee Injury?
The Patriots signed Smith-Schuster to a three-year, $33 million contract in the offseason. Bill Belichick and Co. seemingly chose Smith-Schuster over in-house option Jakobi Meyers, who signed a similar deal with the Las Vegas Raiders.
Breer’s latest report suggests this may wind up being a mistake and costing New England. Breer described Smith-Schuster’s knee as a “mess” and the knee “could explode at any point.”
Report: New #Patriots WR JuJu Smith Schuster's knee reportedly 'Could explode at any point' and is a 'Mess' according to @AlbertBreer
The Pats signed JuJu to a 3-year $33 million contract over keeping Jakobi Meyers, who signed a very similar contract with the #Raiders… pic.twitter.com/rxRcUYyuqc
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) September 4, 2023
Smith-Schuster isn’t known for his explosive playmaking ability and is relied on as mostly an underneath slot option.
But if this report is true, any remaining juice may be lost.
What Did Smith-Schuster Say About the Report?
For his part, Smith-Schuster is issuing a contrary report, saying that his knee is getting stronger. There’s no doubting Smith-Schuster’s conviction in himself as a player and the knee getting stronger. However, Albert Breer is a well-respected NFL Insider, so his report should be taken at face value.
𝗥𝗨𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗦: #Patriots WR Juju Smith Schuster’s knee is “a mess” and “that thing could explode at any point” per @AlbertBreer
Breer says the team may have have to keep an extra receiver because of that.
Juju Smith Schuster responded, saying: “I don't think my knee is a… pic.twitter.com/Yj6VI82RKG
— JPAFootball (@jasrifootball) September 4, 2023
What Kind Of Player Can We Expect in 2023?
During his Pittsburgh Steelers career, Smith-Schuster was considered one of the top young talents in the NFL. The Antonio Brown/Smith-Schuster pairing was virtually unstoppable, and Smith-Schuster operated as a target machine.
MORE: Best Wide Receivers in the NFL 2023
Smith-Schuster hasn’t been the same player since. Many NFL analysts thought his pairing with Patrick Mahomes in an Andy Reid-led offense would be a match made in heaven. Although the Chiefs won the Super Bowl, Smith-Schuster was hardly a large part of the Chiefs’ offense.
#Patriots WR JuJu Smith-Schuster did not miss a practice during training camp and show no signs of knee issues. Yes, he did miss OTAs early in the offseason, but is fully healthy now
— Bobby Thompson (@BThomps81) September 4, 2023
The Chiefs won the Super Bowl despite Smith-Schuster, not because of him. The offseason split was hardly surprising, but finding a landing spot was.
The Patriots signed Smith-Schuster this offseason as a reliable underneath target. Many would argue they already had that player in Jakobi Meyers, but the Patriots decided to move on.
The Patriots’ offense is built on a running game anchored by Rhamondre Stevenson and Ezekiel Elliott. Mac Jones is the point man of the Patriots’ passing game, but few would categorize the New England passing game as “explosive.”
The Patriots’ passing game doesn’t have anyone who threatens an NFL defense with any regularity, including Smith-Schuster. Smith-Schuster may put up a respectable number of receptions, but ultimately, his days of making an impact on a team’s passing are over.