It appears the Patriots are moving on from yet another player who played a role in their 2023 struggles.
According to the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Patriots are parting ways with veteran wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster.
Source: The #Patriots are releasing WR JuJu Smith-Schuster. While a surprise, this move does give Smith-Schuster the chance to sign somewhere before the season. pic.twitter.com/r4ydvyXcYC
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 9, 2024
Smith-Schuster was active Thursday night during the Patriots 17-3 win over the Panthers, playing in 11 snaps but finished without a target.
He’s struggled during camp getting separation, which comes despite the veteran saying he was significantly healthier from where he was a year ago.
Coming off a knee injury prior to his signing with the Patriots, Smith-Schuster ended up having a tough 2023 season, failing to make an impact in replacing the production after the departure of Jacoby Meyers last offseason.
He finished with just 29 receptions for 260 yards and one touchdown last season, and never ended up being the receiving threat they thought they were getting when they signed him back in March last offseason.
By releasing him this early, it both allows him more time to latch on elsewhere, while also freeing up practice reps here for other players.
The Patriots are currently preparing for a joint practice with the Eagles next week, as well as their second preseason game of 2024.
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Ian Logue is a Seacoast native and owner and senior writer for PatsFans.com, an independent media site covering the New England Patriots and has been running this site in one form or another since 1997.
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The positive angle on this is: the pats young WRs are healthy and reporting well in camp: Osborne, Baker, Polk, Pop Douglas, Thornton, Boutte. the Veteran Bourne is a 7th. So the pats are covered to the point of over-stock. Do they have an impact player right now at this moment? No. But a lot of guys that hopefully can aspire to get there or fill in as a 2,3,4.