The New England Patriots are at the start of a transition interval, with the crew not too long ago parting methods with legendary head coach Invoice Belichick after ending with one of many worst information within the NFL final season.
After firing Belichick following 24 seasons and buying and selling beginning quarterback Mac Jones to the Jacksonville Jaguars, New England is beginning contemporary, which implies each participant at present on the roster is at risk of getting reduce because the rebuilding course of strikes alongside.
That goes for veteran huge receiver and one-time Tremendous Bowl champion JuJu Smith-Schuster, who signed with New England final 12 months after profitable all of it with the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs as one in all Patrick Mahomes’ targets.
Though the Patriots desire a gifted group of receivers to develop rookie quarterback Drake Maye the suitable approach, it doesn’t imply Smith-Schuster is protected, and he is aware of that each one too effectively, based on Mike Reiss of ESPN.
“I feel everyone in that room is fighting for a spot … I have to prove [myself],” Smith-Schuster mentioned.
“I feel everyone in that room is fighting for a spot … I have to prove [myself],” — WR JuJu Smith-Schuster, who appears to be a part of a gaggle of 3-4 pass-catchers competing for 1 doable spot pic.twitter.com/q4pogzR11S
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) July 30, 2024
Sadly for Smith-Schuster, he hasn’t been the identical participant since starring for the Pittsburgh Steelers through the 2020 NFL season, when he caught 97 passes for 831 yards and 9 touchdowns. Within the 2018 marketing campaign, he recorded 111 receptions for 1,426 yards and 7 touchdowns to earn his solely Professional Bowl nod.
The 27-year-old’s numbers have fallen off since leaving Pittsburgh, which doesn’t bode effectively for him holding on to a spot on the rebuilding Patriots roster.
Final season, Smith-Schuster hauled in 29 passes for 260 receiving yards and one landing whereas enjoying in 11 video games, beginning solely seven.
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