The New England Patriots released wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster on Friday, and coach Jerod Mayo went into detail about the release on Sunday.
Smith-Schuster signed with the Patriots in 2023 and recorded 29 catches for 260 yards and a touchdown. He was thought to be the replacement for wide receiver Jakobi Meyers, who left for the Las Vegas Raiders in free agency. Smith-Schuster struggled throughout the year with injuries and inconsistent production on the field.
Mayo indicated the release was due to a multitude of factors, including the injuries and the emergence of the younger wide receivers in the room.
“Really to give the younger guys an opportunity to get more reps and show what they can do,” Mayo said on Smith-Schuster. “[His health] is part of it. At the same time, we just want him to get healthy. He still has some good ball left in him, and I wish him nothing but the best.”
Jerod Mayo: The decision to release JuJu Smith-Schuster was due to his health and the Patriots wanting to giving younger WRs more opportunities pic.twitter.com/IZv0uHSTY7
— Mark Daniels (@ByMarkDaniels) August 11, 2024
The Patriots are bullish on their younger wide receivers, and it makes sense considering the strides they’ve made. DeMario Douglas has continued to look like one of the best receivers on the roster, while rookies Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker have come along strongly.
The Smith-Schuster signing initially had a ton of promise, but it was simply a case of being the wrong fit for the Patriots.
