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Six young Patriots players still untested with two games left on schedule
Long out of playoff contention, the Patriots have three things to play for Saturday against the Chargers: spoiler, personal pride and fact-finding.
The Chargers have yet to clinch a playoff berth, so the Patriots could stand in their way, and obviously, players should still be trying their best to prove themselves to their current employers or other teams. However, the Patriots’ front office and coaches should also test out young players so they know what they have for the future.
Here are six players we’d like to see more from before the season is over.
WR Ja’Lynn Polk
The Patriots’ second-round pick hasn’t caught a pass for over a month and has just four catches on 19 targets for 26 yards since the first month of the season.
With 12 catches on 32 targets for 87 yards and two touchdowns, Polk’s rookie season is going almost impossibly bad. And that’s before you compare it to Chargers rookie wide receiver Ladd McConkey, who has 69 catches for 960 yards with five touchdowns.
McConkey was taken 34th overall. The Patriots originally owned that pick before passing on McConkey, trading down to No. 37 overall and taking Polk.
It’s hard to understand how Polk’s year has gone so poorly. He was widely regarded as a second-round talent and looked like the Patriots’ best outside wide receiver in training camp.
The belief within Gillette Stadium is that Polk got in his own head after some early drops. A team source said the rookie wideout is hard on himself.
Polk played a career-low three offensive snaps in Sunday’s loss to the Bills. At this point, with how Polk’s rookie season is going, the Patriots can’t count on him to do anything in 2025.
Getting some production out of him over the final two weeks would potentially at least provide a confidence boost.
WR Javon Baker
Baker out-snapped Polk for the first time all season on Sunday against the Bills. He was targeted just once and has yet to haul in his first NFL pass.
So, in some ways, Baker’s rookie season is actually going worse than Polk’s. Baker was a fourth-round pick, however, so expectations should be lower.
It doesn’t help that he boasted after the 2024 NFL Draft that his play on the field makes people in wheelchairs stand up. Yes, he really said that.
The Patriots began to increase Baker’s role in Week 15 with eight snaps. Maybe, if given similar playing time, rookie QB Drake Maye could connect with him for the first time this season.
Baker led college football with a 21.9 yards per catch average last season, so targeting him on a go route might be the best course of action.
OT Caedan Wallace
Wallace hasn’t played since Week 4 due to an ankle injury. He played four games to start the season and allowed three pressures, including one sack, in 70 snaps at jumbo tight end and left tackle.
Offensive line coach Scott Peters said this month that Wallace has been focusing on right tackle in his return from injured reserve.
Patriots right tackle Demontrey Jacobs sees too much fluctuation in his play. In 13 games, he’s allowed four or more pressures six times and one or fewer pressures four times. It’s hard to know which player is going to show up week-to-week, and Jacobs struggled against the Bills, allowing five pressures. A poor cut block led the Bills’ defense to score when running back Rhamondre Stevenson couldn’t haul in a backward pass from Maye with defensive end Gregory Rousseau running free and charging at the pass-catcher after Jacobs failed to slow him down.
It’s worth getting Wallace snaps at right tackle before the season ends. He was activated Friday.
OL Cole Strange
Starting center Ben Brown has missed practice this week after being diagnosed with a concussion.
That could lead Strange, who dressed in his first game of the season last week, to start. The Patriots’ other option is Lecitus Smith.
Strange began the season on the PUP list as he recovered from a torn patellar tendon suffered last December. He played three snaps on Sunday but all came on special teams.
Strange has never played center in the NFL, so starting there against the Chargers would be a challenge. But the Patriots need to know if Strange can be counted on to play a big role next season.
CB Alex Austin
Austin has played sparingly since he missed the middle part of the schedule with an ankle injury. But he’s allowed just six receptions on 11 targets for 60 yards with a touchdown and three pass breakups in four games.
With cornerback Marcus Jones out with a hip injury, that frees up Jonathan Jones to play the slot against McConkey and Austin and Christian Gonzalez to line up outside.
S Marte Mapu
Depending on the health of fellow safeties Kyle Dugger and Jabrill Peppers, Mapu has either been a starter or healthy scratch this season.
He’s coming off of a mostly solid performance against the Bills, picking off quarterback Josh Allen and breaking up another pass. He did make the ill-advised decision to take his interception out of the end zone rather than taking a touchback, resulting in the Patriots’ offense getting the ball from the 1-yard line.
Whoops.
Mapu was a third-round pick in 2023. It’s been strange to see Dell Pettus and Jaylinn Hawkins active over him when he’s been a healthy scratch.
Originally Published:
With just two games left in the regular season, the New England Patriots have already punched their ticket to the playoffs. While many key players have stepped up and proven themselves throughout the season, there are still a handful of young players who have yet to fully showcase their abilities on the field.
Here are six young Patriots players who are still relatively untested with two games left on the schedule:
1. Chase Winovich, DE: The second-year defensive end has shown flashes of potential but has been limited in playing time. With injuries to the defensive line, Winovich will have the opportunity to make a big impact in the final games.
2. Josh Uche, LB: The rookie linebacker has been slowly integrated into the defense and has shown promise in limited snaps. With more playing time, Uche could prove to be a valuable asset for the Patriots.
3. Anfernee Jennings, LB: Another rookie linebacker, Jennings has been primarily used on special teams. With the linebacker corps dealing with injuries, Jennings could see an increased role on defense in the final games.
4. Devin Asiasi, TE: The rookie tight end has had a quiet season thus far, but with injuries to the tight end position, Asiasi could see more targets in the passing game in the final stretch.
5. Dugger, S: The rookie safety has been solid in his first season, but has yet to make a big impact play. With two games left, Dugger has the opportunity to showcase his playmaking abilities.
6. Justin Herron, OL: The rookie offensive lineman has been a versatile piece on the Patriots’ line, but has yet to solidify a starting role. With injuries to the offensive line, Herron could see more playing time and prove his worth.
As the Patriots gear up for the playoffs, these young players have the chance to make a name for themselves and prove that they can contribute to the team’s success. Keep an eye on these six players in the final two games of the season as they look to make their mark on the field.
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