After Missing OTAs, Minicamp, Patriots' JuJu Smith-Schuster Ready for Training Camp?

New England Patriots receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster has yet to participate in any organized team practices due to a knee injury suffered last season.

FOXBORO — Though the New England Patriots may have missed — or perhaps bypassed — an opportunity to sign five-time All-Pro DeAndre Hopkins, they must look to the receivers currently on their roster to resurrect an offense that in 2022 was stagnant.

Fortunately for New England, their top free agent acquisition seems ready to join his team on the field at the outset of training camp. 

After spending the majority of the team’s offseason workouts sidelined with a knee injury, receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster told the Boston Globe this week that he expects to be ready for the Pats’ first official practice on July 26. In fact, he is set travel back to Massachusetts July 24 — one day before New England’s veterans are required to report on July 25. 

Smith-Schuster, who signed a three-year, $33 million deal with New England in March, participated neither in team drills during OTAs, nor mandatory minicamp practices . The six-year veteran incurred his knee injury during January’s AFC Championship Game as a member of the Kansas City Chiefs. Despite performing at a level notably less than his best, Smith-Schuster still played an integral role in the Chiefs’ 38-35 victory against the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LVII, catching seven passes for 53 yards.

Accordingly, New England has been prudent when it comes to Smith-Schuster’s health heading into 2023. The USC product is expected to a new dimension to the Pats’ offense in 2023. He possesses the ability to routinely gain yards after the catch — which, in theory, should endear him to new Patriots’ offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien. He earned 141 yards above expectation last season — the fifth-highest number in the league. Smith-Schuster ranked ninth in the league with an average of 5.8 yards-after-catch per reception. By comparison, the entire Patriots’ receiving corps combined gained just 33 yards after the catch in 2022.

In addition to Smith-Schuster, receivers Kendrick Bourne, Tyquan Thornton, DeVante Parker, Tre Nixon, Demario Douglas, Kayshon Boutte and Ed Lee — as well as proficient pass-catching tight ends Hunter Henry and Mike Gesicki — round out New England’s pass-catching troupe. 

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