Jerod Mayo calls out rookie receiver Ja’Lynn Polk after rough game vs. Texans

"I think he just needs to get over this mental hump."

The Patriots’ receiver corps made significant strides on Sunday afternoon with rookie Drake Maye under center.

Thanks to the 22-year-old QB’s ability to push the ball down the field, New England’s young crop of pass-catchers finally showed out in Foxborough.

DeMario Douglas broke through as Maye’s most-targeted wideout, with the second-year pro reeling in six catches off nine targets for 92 yards and a touchdown. Fellow 2023 NFL Draft pick Kayshon Boutte also had his best game as a pro, finishing with three catches for 59 yards and a touchdown.

But that breakout performance on offense didn’t carry over for New England’s other talented young wideout in Ja’Lynn Polk. The 2024 second-round pick (No. 37) finished with just one catch on Sunday for four yards, dropping two passes in the loss.

Even with his evident talent as a route-runner, drops have hindered Polk so far in his rookie season. The wide receiver has caught 10 passes on 23 targets so far this year.

Those lapses in offensive execution drew the ire of Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo on Monday.

“I think he just needs to get over this mental hump. You’ve got to eliminate the dropped passes,” Mayo said. “You’ve got to be better at blocking, which he did a great job in college at that and at times throughout the season.

“He just has to continue to grow, and he has to work harder. He has to pay more attention to the details, and we fully expect him to grow into a receiver that’s dependable on run and pass downs.”

Polk’s development would be welcomed for a Patriots’ offense looking to take steps forward with Maye now in place as QB1.

But Mayo stressed on Monday that the current order of New England’s depth chart might have shifted after Sunday’s loss to Houston.

“It’s the same thing that we’re going through with the offensive line. I think when I look at the film, it’s Boutte, it’s Pop [DeMario Douglas], it’s [Kendrick Bourne],” Mayo said. “And we need the rest of those guys to step up and make plays.”

Douglas and Boutte’s elevated roles don’t come as much of a surprise after their strong play against the Texans. Bourne should continue to see his reps tick up as the 29-year-old veteran continues to work his way back from a torn ACL last season.

But with that trio currently the featured playmakers in New England, Polk will need to start building his game back up if he wants to become a dependable target for Maye moving forward.

Conor Ryan is a staff writer covering the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox for Boston.com, a role he has held since 2023.