With a new coaching staff calling the shots for the New England Patriots, there are plenty of jobs up for grabs that would typically be considered safe otherwise.
One of the most interesting roster battles is the competition brewing in the wide receivers room. Several newcomers have joined the fold to compete for spots on the depth chart against some recent draft picks.
Outside of Stefon Diggs, it is hard to pinpoint a player who will undoubtedly be a starter when the Patriots break the huddle for the first time in Week 1. One of the holdovers from the previous staff who is fighting for his spot on the roster made his training camp debut on Monday and impressed when the opportunity to work with Drake Maye presented itself.
Patriots 2nd-Year WR Ja'Lynn Polk Shines in Training Camp Debut
After missing the first week of training camp this summer with a soft tissue issue, Ja'Lynn Polk returned to the practice field on Monday and looked like a player who was ready to make a statement.
Ja'Lynn Polk returns to Patriots practice and finished strong on Monday https://t.co/OpWWceizjZ
— Mark Daniels (@ByMarkDaniels) July 28, 2025
According to Mark Daniels of MassLive.com, Polk spent the majority of his first practice session working with the second-team offense and backup QB Josh Dobbs. However, he made sure to turn some heads when given the opportunity to share the field with starting QB Drake Maye during an 11-on-11 drill in the red zone at the end of practice.
"In the final 11-on-11 period, the Patriots ran plays from the 6-yard line. On Maye’s final snap, Polk beat Marcellus Dial in the end zone to haul in a touchdown pass from the Patriots quarterback," Daniels wrote.
New England selected Polk with the No. 37 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft following a standout career with the Washington Huskies. After impressing during the early stages of training camp as a rookie, Polk was a non-factor once the regular season kicked off and finished the year with 12 receptions for 87 yards and two touchdowns.
With players like Diggs, rookie WR Kyle Williams, and free agent acquisition Mack Hollins joining the fold, the opportunities Polk would have expected as a second-year player selected in the top 40 of his respective draft aren't going to be handed to him. This is a big part of why his name has been included among the players who could be on the chopping block without a standout training camp performance.
It is just one practice, but if Polk brings this approach to the field day in and day out, then he should be right in the thick of things once the preseason comes to a close and New England sets its final roster.