In their first preseason game, Joe Milton made an impression on the field while the New England Patriots continued to reshape their roster by releasing veteran wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster. The team announced the move on Friday, parting ways with the 27-year-old after only one season.
Smith-Schuster was initially signed to a three-year, $25.5 million contract, but injuries to his knee and ankle, along with a concussion, hampered his performance, limiting him to just 11 games last season. He finished the year with 29 receptions for 260 yards and a single touchdown, scored during a matchup against the Miami Dolphins.
In Thursday’s preseason opener, Smith-Schuster played 11 snaps but did not receive any targets. Despite optimistic reports about his health during training camp, he faced stiff competition for a roster spot from a deep group of receivers, including Demario Douglas and rookies Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker, along with Kendrick Bourne and free-agent signee K.J. Osborn. Jalen Reagor also has an advantage due to his special teams contributions.
By releasing Smith-Schuster at this time, he now has the opportunity to join another team as the regular season approaches. The Patriots are expected to incur a dead cap hit of $9.6 million for 2024 and an additional $2.6 million in 2025 following this decision.