Patriots WR Ja'Lynn Polk has simple message in response to controversial incomplete pass call in loss to 49ers

Quarterback Jacoby Brissett chimed in with his thoughts after the game as well. 

"Yeah, it looked like we caught it but, I guess not," he told reporters on Sunday. "But it's just giving out guys a chance. I'm trying to give us the best chance to make plays. They were starting to sit on us a lot and not backing up a little bit and Polk had made a couple good catches down the field. So, just trying to go up and give him another chance."

The Patriots selected Polk in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft, and he has proven to be a very reliable presence on offense. So far this season, he has eight receptions on 13 total targets for 61 yards and one touchdown. 

But despite his lower numbers, he actually ranks third-best out of 101-qualifying receivers in separation win rate. 

This specific play is proof enough, showing him wide open on Brissett's interception that resulted in a 49ers pick-six. 

Patriots rookie weapon had an NFL experience he and his family will never forget

FOXBOROUGH, Mass - Despite the loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, it will always be a day to remember for wide receiver Ja'Lynn Polk.

The New England Patriots rookie hauled in a pass from quarterback Jacoby Brissett in the end zone, recoding his first NFL touchdown. And his teammate made sure that he was able to keep the ball as a reminder of this individual accomplishment.

However, Polk decided to pass it along to someone else who was a huge influence in his football career. The receiver posted a photo on his Instagram story alongside his dad, where he gave that touchdown ball to him for his birthday.

This was an incredibly sweet gesture. So A to Z Sports spoke exclusively with Polk about this moment with his father.

"It meant a lot to be able to get the game ball for my dad," Polk said. "I told him I was going to get in the chicken box for him."

The chicken box is a name that Polk and his father use to reference the end zone. And when asked why he calls it that, he just smiled. 

"I really don't know. We just call it the chicken box," he replied.

Special moment

Every rookie will always remember their first touchdown, and for Polk to be able to get it on such a special day with his family in attendance was perfect.

"Him and my mom make a lot of sacrifices for me and my little sister," Polk explained. "So for me to be able to go out there and they can see me go out there and perform at a high level, it's pretty cool." 

And while he couldn't be there to see his dad's immediate reaction to getting the ball, people told him that his father was "lit."

All of this wouldn't have been possible without the extra effort of veteran receiver K.J. Osborn, who made sure that Polk was able to get this token.

"It was his first touchdown, so I wanted to make sure he got the ball," Osborn told A to Z Sports.

And while he wasn't on the field for the touchdown play, he was involved in a celebration that caught everyone's attention.

"I saw that he was kind of doing a celebration and everything like that, so I just wanted to make sure that he got it," Osborn added. "So I gift wrapped it to him. And he was able to take it home to his pops for his dad's birthday."