JuJu Smith-Schuster is struggling to make an impact in the New England Patriots’ wide receiver competition. As he navigates his second training camp with the team, his performance has been noticeably lacking. Out of the five practice sessions held so far, four were conducted without pads, which generally favor offensive skill players. Despite this, Smith-Schuster has been largely absent from the spotlight.
During a recent practice, Smith-Schuster had a notably poor performance, dropping a pass from rookie quarterback Drake Maye during a 1-on-1 drill. This missed opportunity was particularly disappointing because it was one of Maye’s standout throws of the camp. The pass was broken up by second-string cornerback Alex Austin. Additionally, Smith-Schuster was also unable to make an impact during an 11-on-11 drill, where Patriots cornerback Marcus Jones recorded a pass breakup against him. This pass breakup came from quarterback Jacoby Brissett and highlighted Smith-Schuster’s difficulty in creating separation, even though he had assured reporters of his full recovery from a knee injury.
On the latest episode of NESN’s “Foxboro Rush” podcast, NESN.com’s Sean T. McGuire discussed Smith-Schuster’s “underwhelming” performance so far. McGuire expressed doubts about Smith-Schuster’s chances of making the final roster, suggesting that it’s increasingly likely he will be cut. McGuire stated, “At this point, I think it’s a no-brainer that he’s not going to make the team. We’ll see what happens in the next few weeks when pads come on, but it’s tough to envision that he does.”
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