Former Steelers WR JuJu Smith-Schuster has shocking fall out with Patriots

For Pittsburgh Steelers fans, it was weird seeing wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster in a Kansas City Chiefs uniform in 2022. That only lasted a year, as the two sides did not reunite after the one-year deal expired. Instead, he joined the New England Patriots on a three-year, $25.5 million deal. Suddenly, Smith-Schuster in a Chiefs uniform didn't seem as weird.

Just ahead of the Patriot's season opener, Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer reported that the wide receiver's knees are "a mess" and could "explode at any point" in an appearance on NBC Sports Boston. Unfortunately, the team didn't bring him onto the field for the final drive of their Week 1 contest against the Philadelphia Eagles. Down just three points, the coaches opted to send out two rookies instead of the veteran wideout. According to beat reporter Andrew Callahan of the Boston Herald, Smith-Schuster may not even be a top-five option in New England's offense.

"Patriots coaches have said all the right things about Smith-Schuster’s lack of playing time: he’s smart and works hard, he’s a good player and they feel positively about the two rookies who played over him," Callahan said. "Multiple team sources believe Smith-Schuster is not presently among the team’s five most effective pass-catchers. According to those same sources, his place in the offense has been complicated by a variety of factors. Starts with health."

Patriots wide receivers coach Ross Douglas explained that the team did what was needed to give them the best chance to score and win the game. Yes, that plan did not include Smith-Schuster. This isn't great news for a guy who just signed a $25.5 million deal. In his first game with the Patriots, the USC product had mixed results. He caught four of his seven targets for 33 receiving yards against the Eagles. 

At this point, it seems like his name is over-weighing his true abilities. At this point, it's clear that he benefited greatly from having Antonio Brown next to him. In his breakout sophomore campaign, Smith-Schuster had career-highs in catches (111) and receiving yards (1,426), which ranked tied-for-sixth and fifth in the NFL, respectively. 

Do The Steelers Miss The Physical Presence Of Smith-Schuster?

Smith-Schuster isn't the only former Steelers player who is struggling to find his footing early in the 2023 campaign. Wide receiver Chase Claypool had a poor performance with the Chicago Bears in Week 1 and he seems to be falling out of favor in Chicago now. If you remember, the Steelers somehow acquired the second-round draft pick that ultimately landed them Joey Porter Jr. in the trade last season.

Recent reports suggest that there's a possibility that Claypool is a healthy inactive for the Bears' Week 2 game. The grass isn't always greener on the other side. We've seen it in the past with plenty of Steelers players moving onto new teams, specifically at the wide receiver position. Mike Wallace is perhaps the most notable example, as he moved on after failing to reach an extension with the AFC North side. 

Ultimately, it's still hard to blame Smith-Schuster for leaving Pittsburgh. By the end of his five-year tenure, it was clear that both sides were ready to move on. He was able to win a Super Bowl ring with the Chiefs, the first of his career. Still, it's interesting to wonder just what went wrong in his ascension to stardom.