Patriots WR Ja'Lynn Polk to Miss 2025 Season with Shoulder Injury

New England Patriots wide receiver Ja’Lynn Polk, the team's 2024 second-round pick, will miss the entire 2025 season after deciding to undergo season-ending shoulder surgery. Polk re-injured the same shoulder during the preseason opener after having offseason surgery on it, which had already limited his offseason and training camp participation. Polk struggled throughout his rookie year, finishing with just 12 catches for 87 yards and two touchdowns, ranking last among wide receivers in his draft class and facing an uphill battle to make the roster in 2025. The Patriots have a deep wide receiver group, including veterans Stefon Diggs and Mack Hollins, rookies Kyle Williams and Efton Chism III, and others like DeMario Douglas and Kayshon Boutte, making Polk's absence unlikely to shift the team's receiver outlook significantly. With Polk sidelined, the Patriots will have roster decisions to make around other receivers such as Javon Baker and Kendrick Bourne. Polk aims to be fully healthy and ready to compete for a spot again in the 2026 season.