The New England Patriots have placed veteran receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster on injured reserve as part of making a series of roster moves in advance of their Week 17 matchup with the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium.
The team has also signed safety Joshuah Bledsoe to their 53-man roster, while elevating center Andrew Steuber and tight end Matt Sokol from their practice squad.
Smith-Schuster, who signed a three-year, $33 million deal with New England in March, was expected to add a new dimension to the Pats’ offense in 2023. In addition to his enthusiastic style of play, his on-field abilities were considered to be an ideal fit within Patriots’ offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien's system — particularly due to his ability to earn yards after the catch.
Unfortunately for both Smith-Schuster and the Patriots, the union has yet to materialize into its expectations. The 27-year-old will finish the season with 29 catches for 260 yards and one touchdown, while averaging only 3.2 yards-after-catch per reception in 11 games played. In addition to missing two games while in concussion protocol earlier this season, Smith-Schuster had not played since Week 14 due to a lingering ankle injury.
Bledsoe was originally drafted by New England in the sixth-round (No. 188 overall) of the 2021 NFL Draft out of Missouri. Though the 5-11, 207-pounder spent his first season on the Reserve NFI List, he played a key reserve role in 2022. Last season, he played in three games, seeing action on defense and special teams. Though he was released by New England at the end of training camp in August, he quickly landed back with the Pats via their scout team. With fellow safeties Jabrill Peppers having been ruled out for Sunday's matchup, and Kyle Dugger dealing with an illness, Bledsoe's aggressive style should add some pop to the Patriots defensive backfield against the Bills.
Sokol is being elevated to the active roster for the second straight week. He made his 2023 debut with limited action at tight end last week at Denver. The 28-year-old was originally claimed off waivers and awarded to New England from Detroit in May 2022. Sokol spent said season on the New England practice squad and played in three games after being elevated to the active roster. After being waived during final roster cuts prior to the start of 2023, Sokol signed with the practice squad. The 6-5, 258-pound tight end has a thorough knowledge of the Pats play book and may see notable minutes against Buffalo, if team captain Hunter Henry is unable to play due to a knee injury he suffered during New England's Week 15 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Stueber was originally drafted by New England in the seventh-round (No. 245 overall) of the 2022 NFL Draft out of Michigan. The 6-6, 318-pound lineman spent his rookie season on the NFI List. Stueber was released at the end of training camp in 2023 and was signed to the practice squad. Sunday's game will mark his first scout team elevation of the season.
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