The New England Patriots pulled the plug on JuJu Smith-Schuster’s tenure last week, releasing the veteran after only one season. Parting ways with the veteran wide receiver officially closed the book on a disappointing free agency acquisition.
It also helps give more opportunities to younger members of the Patriots’ current wide receiver group, head coach Jerod Mayo explained on Sunday.
“It was a decision between Eliot [Wolf] and myself, really to give the younger guys an opportunity to go out there and get more reps and show what they can do,” Mayo told reporters ahead of his team’s 12th training camp practice.
Mayo added that Smith-Schuster’s extensive injury history played a role in the decision to release him. The 27-year-old had played just 11 games during his lone season in New England, catching a mere 29 passes for 260 yards and a touchdown.
“We just want him to get healthy,” Mayo continued. “He still has some good ball left in him and I wish him nothing but the best.”
Despite Mayo painting an optimistic picture about Smith-Schuster’s outlook, his release sent a clear message both about him and his now-former team. Whereas the Patriots decided his outlook and price tag no longer stood in any relation to one another, they also made another commitment to the young receivers on their roster — a group headlined by DeMario Douglas and rookies Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker.
Also part of it is second-year wideout Kayshon Boutte. Unlike Douglas and company, he is not a roster lock, which means he could be one of the benefactors of Smith-Schuster being let go.
“JuJu’s a great person. It’s part of the business,” Boutte said Sunday. “It sucks that he got released, but there are opportunities for us. Just got to go out and show that we deserve to be here.”
K.J. Osborn, the most experienced receiver currently practicing, echoed Boutte’s remarks.
“It’s the toughest part of our business,” he said. “But, like Coach said, when somebody goes down or someone is released it’s another chance to step up. You get evaluated every time you’re out here on the field, so it’ll just be more opportunity.”
Who will take advantage of that opportunity remains to be seen; Osborn looks like a safe bet to make the roster, while Boutte appears to be in a solid spot as well. By releasing Smith-Schuster, the Patriots have accelerated the process of finding out.
