How Patriots' Ja’Lynn Polk is working to bounce back from disappointing rookie season

This past winter, New England Patriots starting quarterback Drake Maye essentially put wide receiver Ja'Lynn Polk on notice coming off Polk's disappointing rookie campaign. 

That was before New England added Stefon Diggs, Mack Hollins and rookie Kyle Williams to its receiving room this offseason. 

While speaking with reporters on Wednesday, Polk suggested he isn't using what occurred during his first pro season as motivation this summer. 

"I don’t even think about last year," Polk said, as shared by Karen Guregian of MassLive. "We got a new staff, a new team. The energy’s great...I’m here now. I’m stepping each step forward." 

The Patriots made Polk the 37th overall pick of the 2024 draft when Jerod Mayo was still learning on the job about serving as a first-year head coach. Polk left much to be desired with his play, as he recorded just 12 receptions for 87 yards and two touchdowns over 15 games for a Patriots side that went 4-13. 

Mayo has since been replaced with Mike Vrabel, a one-time Associated Press Coach of the Year who wasn't with the Patriots when they acquired Polk. 

"I think I’m in a fight with myself competing each and every day, trying to be better than I was yesterday," Polk said about what he's focusing on during camp. "So as long as I got that mindset, I’m going to be great." 

Mark Daniels of MassLive noted that Polk underwent offseason shoulder surgery and then missed the first week of training camp due to a lower-body injury. Such setbacks likely did the 23-year-old few favors as he finds himself battling to simply make New England's final roster. 

That said, it sounds like Polk is doing everything possible to ignore what has been said and written about him following his lackluster debut NFL season. 

"I don’t go off the narrative of what people think of me," Polk added. "I know who I am, and I know the work that I put in each and every day to go out there and help this team win. I’m going to keep working hard each and every day. I’m going to keep going into my preparation and applying it out on the field."

A coaching staff that didn't draft Polk will likely want him to impress during New England's preseason opener versus the Washington Commanders on Aug. 8. If he doesn't, he almost certainly will hear more questions from media members about his uncertain future leading up to the final week of August.