Patriots
Smith-Schuster performed in simply 43 of the Patriots’ offensive snaps of their season-opening loss to the Eagles.
JuJu Smith-Schuster’s standing on the Patriots’ large receiver depth chart appeared to take successful of their season-opening loss to the Eagles.
The veteran performed simply 43 of the Patriots’ 80 offensive snaps within the sport, fewer than sixth-round rookie Kayshon Boutte. On the heels of the Week 1 loss, it was reported that the Patriots don’t view Smith-Schuster as certainly one of their “5 simplest pass-catchers,” in response to the Boston Herald’s Andrew Callahan.
A sign that the Patriots might need felt that manner in Sunday’s sport got here of their closing drive, which Smith-Schuster noticed from the sideline as he didn’t play a single snap within the two-minute drill.
Smith-Schuster downplayed that there might need been an even bigger purpose for his lack of taking part in time on Sunday, particularly in crunch time.
“No, I believe it’s only a scenario that we have been in and the personnel that was on the market,” Smith-Schuster informed reporters on Friday.
A part of the rationale why the Patriots reportedly don’t view Smith-Schuster as certainly one of their high pass-catchers is said to the surgically repaired knee harm that bothered him within the 2019, 2020, and 2022 seasons, in response to Callahan. The harm reportedly saved Smith-Schuster off the follow area in the course of the staff’s exercises within the offseason after he aggravated it within the Chiefs’ run to profitable the Tremendous Bowl final season.
Smith-Schuster isn’t too involved although in regards to the scenario along with his knee.
“Yeah, 100%. I believe it’s 100%,” Smith-Schuster mentioned. “I’ve been engaged on it day by day. It’s good being right here, discover a good routine, get in with the coach each single day to go on the market to carry out.”
Smith-Schuster performed in his common slot receiver function in Sunday’s sport, recording 4 receptions for 33 yards, but in addition had a fairly large third-down drop. As Smith-Schuster averaged fewer than 10 yards per reception, Callahan reported that the staff believes the knee harm has “diminished a few of his explosion and run-after-catch means,” which helped him earn a three-year, $25.5 million deal from the Patriots this offseason.
In a separate dialog with MassLive’s Karen Guregian, Smith-Schuster as soon as once more downplayed that concern.
“No, I don’t assume so,” Smith-Schuster informed Guregian when requested if he felt he’s misplaced any explosiveness. “Clearly, the primary sport was powerful for all of us. All of us have issues we have to get higher at . . . on the identical time, that’s a part of the method. You come to a brand new staff, even after I was with the Chiefs, you begin out sluggish, sluggish. Even after I was with Pittsburgh, it was sluggish and sluggish. You’re nonetheless studying. It’s loopy, I’m Yr 7 within the league, and there’s guys who’re Yr 12, and also you’re nonetheless studying. “
Although there have been reported issues surrounding Smith-Schuster’s knee since he wasn’t round on the staff’s offseason exercises, he has been energetic and current ever since then. He practiced for the whole thing of coaching camp and obtained comparable taking part in time within the preseason as the opposite Patriots’ starters.
Smith-Schuster additionally hasn’t missed a follow since coaching camp ended and hasn’t been on the harm report.
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