The New England Patriots enjoyed some solid attendance at their second organized team activity on Tuesday, but they were still short a few wide receivers. Stefon Diggs and Mack Hollins both missed the session, while Ja’Lynn Polk was limited.
Their absences are not a major concern at this point in the process. However, as head coach Mike Vrabel said ahead of the session, they still need to play their part.
“The players that aren’t available need to make sure that they’re doing everything they can to stay up mentally and continue to work hard to get back,” Vrabel explained.
This particular group of players including Diggs, Hollins and Polk is not the only one already feeling the pressure early during OTAs, though. Vrabel added that the entire wide receiver room, which stands at 12 deep with the draft and rookie free agency in the rear-view mirror, is needed to meet expectations.
“The young players that are coming onto this roster have to earn a role. The ones that are returning have a clean slate to go and compete, whether that’s a carryover position from last year or a new position,” Vrabel said.
“We’re very early on in the process, but we need that group to compete and have a willingness to go out there and help the quarterback through this spring process.”
The Patriots entered the offseason with six wide receivers on their roster, plus a seventh, JaQuae Jackson, headed for free agency. Jackson was eventually re-signed before later being released again, leaving the group’ returning core at DeMario Douglas, Kendrick Bourne, Kayshon Boutte, Ja’Lynn Polk, Javon Baker and John Jiles.
Since the start of free agency, that group has doubled in size. The aforementioned Stefon Diggs and Mack Hollins were signed in free agency, presumably to play starter-level roles within the offense.
Furthermore, four rookies were added to the mix as well. Besides third-round draft choice Kyle Williams, the Patriots also signed a trio of undrafted players; Efton Chism, Demeer Blankumsee and Jeremiah Webb were picked up after the draft came to an end.
The rookie class had some promising moments on Tuesday with the likes of Diggs, Hollins and Polk either out or limited. In general, as DeMario Douglas said after practice, its members are making sure the pressure stays on the rest of the depth chart as well.
“It’s straight competition in our room, and I love it,” Douglas told reporters. “The four rookies that came in, they’re pushing us to get better. When we got people coming in that work hard, it’s going to push everybody else to work harder.”
