Patriots Injury News Polk out for the season

[TheRainMaker]

I'm counting on Kyle Williams to break the WR drafting curse.

 

[raduray]

considering his contract, best case scenario... in the tiny tiny chance he can ever turn it around they get to keep him for 1 more year. Considering his contract that is a good thing as he was already paid for for this year... cutting him gains you nothing but a roster spot. So this is ideal. Get the spot, get to keep him 1 more year. Maybe trade him after if he shows something or who knows.. keep him if he somehow doesn't suck.

"Doesn't suck" isn't exactly the bar for making the team.

 

[PatsFan2]

By week1 Polk will be a distant memory...Ja'Lynn who??

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

I'm counting on Kyle Williams to break the WR drafting curse.

His separation skills are special in the very small sample size we’ve seen to date.

 

[n1997y]

Now the question is whether the Pats waive Polk with an injury settlement, or keep him around for another chance in 2026.

Is there any benefit to waiving him with an injury settlement, or do his guarantees still hit the cap the same as they would anyway?

 

[Ring 6]

Facing surgery is awful but with the possibility of being cut he at least collects a paycheck and can continue to learn the system and be part of the organization.

The thing is he can’t be part of the organization. IR guys are not allowed to participate so it’s just a lost year.
Thats why young guys going on IR rarely ever make it because next year he will come back having been totally away from football for a year and a year older with a missing year if knowledge, experience and growth.
He will be further behind next year than he was this year.

It’s also scary that after having surgery he reinjured the same shoulder the first time he touched the ball, essentially just by landing in the ground.

I doubt he will ever play in a real game again in the NFL.

 

[Ring 6]

Is there any benefit to waiving him with an injury settlement, or do his guarantees still hit the cap the same as they would anyway?

Since he is having surgery it’s probably moot whether he has guarantees because the injury settlement has to cover the projected time before he can play again, which would likely be the whole season.

 

[Ring 6]

I know Rong 6 is surprised.

No putzfan2, everyone was aware that if he needed surgery he would go in IR. Only you thought if he was completely healthy he’d ask to go on IR

 

[RobertWeathers]

The thing is he can’t be part of the organization. IR guys are not allowed to participate so it’s just a lost year.
Thats why young guys going on IR rarely ever make it because next year he will come back having been totally away from football for a year and a year older with a missing year if knowledge, experience and growth.
He will be further behind next year than he was this year.

It’s also scary that after having surgery he reinjured the same shoulder the first time he touched the ball, essentially just by landing in the ground.

I doubt he will ever play in a real game again in the NFL.

Players on IR can still participate in meetings, be in the stadium, weight-room, etc.

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

What did he literally do all of season?

 

[maust]

 

[Ring 6]

Players on IR can still participate in meetings, be in the stadium, weight-room, etc.

That’s basically year away from football. Sitting in meetings and not being able to go in the practice field isn’t very helpful. But you are correct.

 

[Urgent]

We're done.
I had such high hopes for the season.

 

[Brotherblues]

Maybe this is best case scenario for us. Cutting him would create a Dead Cap of $4,516,232 and cost us an additional $2,312,881 in salary. And Maybe this gives him a year to grow up and get his body and head right.

I don't understand this. I'd appreciate some clarity if you (or anyone else) can explain. Here's how I see it:

Polk has X amount of guaranteed money he'll count towards the cap for '25 and '26. If you cut him, some/most/all of that guaranteed amount is accelerated to '25 but is off the books in '26.

Since we are rolling cap exceeding that amount, what difference does it make capwise to just absorb it now? Cut or keep, you're still well under the cap in '25 and will have exactly the same cap space in '26.

Thinking strictly of cap space, not the time value of that money.

The only increased cap cost would perhaps be the salary space taken up by his replacement at the back end of the roster, which should be a minimum salary vet / day 3 pick / udfa rookie type.

What am I missing?

 

[imahobgoblin]

I don't understand this. I'd appreciate some clarity if you (or anyone else) can explain. Here's how I see it:

Polk has X amount of guaranteed money he'll count towards the cap for '25 and '26. If you cut him, some/most/all of that guaranteed amount is accelerated to '25 but is off the books in '26.

Since we are rolling cap exceeding that amount, what difference does it make capwise to just absorb it now? Cut or keep, you're still well under the cap in '25 and will have exactly the same cap space in '26.

Thinking strictly of cap space, not the time value of that money.

The only increased cap cost would perhaps be the salary space taken up by his replacement at the back end of the roster, which should be a minimum salary vet / day 3 pick / udfa rookie type.

What am I missing?

Its a fair question. I don't know the answer. I don't make up the numbers. I just quoted them from sportrac.

 

[imahobgoblin]

What did he literally do all of season?

He rehabbed a shoulder injury. He got hit in the Commanders game. I was there and it looked nasty. When he ran to the sideline, he was in a lot of pain. They put the blue tent up, and the took him straight to the locker room. I don't know if he re-injured the shoulder or is this is a new injury.

 

[Triumph]

Deja vu all over again.

 

[upstater1]

12 receptions and 87 yards for the 34th pick in the draft.

 

[Dragda]

All receivers drafted by us should legally change their first name to N’Keal.

 

[Ross12]

A lot of folks seem to be missing important factors:

- Polk is having surgery on his shoulder so he will be unavailable all season; this isn't a case where he's "on IR" but will be healthy enough to play in 3 weeks
- Polk was a 2nd round pick, so his salaries in 2025 AND 2026 were always guaranteed. If he was cut this year he'd actually hit the cap for even more this year than he was already, due to accelerated future costs.
- Again, his 2026 money is guaranteed so there is no harm in holding onto his rights until next year and seeing how he does. He's already been paid for next year, so there's zero sense in letting him go if he isn't taking up roster space.

None of the above guarantees he will be a good player or contributor next year, but there's zero harm in keeping him until then on IR. The WR position will be very in-flux next year, as Pop, Boutte and Hollins will all be on the final years of their contracts, and Diggs effectively will be too since his 3 year deal is really structured more like a 2 year deal. So, if some of these guys end up with unreasonable contract demands and an extension seems unlikely, or if the team simply wants to move on from mid-30 year olds, that opens the door for Polk to carve out a spot after studying all season and also being able to watch a true pro like Diggs execute all season.