Chiefs' JuJu Smith-Schuster: Comes up empty versus Bengals
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Smith-Schuster wasn't targeted in Sunday's 26-25 win over the Bengals.
Smith-Schuster only played 13 offensive snaps (20 percent) in the contest, sitting fourth among wideouts in snap share behind Rashee Rice (83 percent), Xavier Worthy (68 percent) and Justin Watson (45 percent). The veteran has yet to reel in a pass this year and has just one target to his name through two games, so he's on the outside looking in from a fantasy standpoint unless injuries pop up to others at the position.
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Chiefs' JuJu Smith-Schuster: Can't bring in only target
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Smith-Schuster failed to secure his only target during Thursday's 27-20 win over the Ravens.
Smith-Schuster's lone look from Patrick Mahomes would've been a 20-plus yard touchdown had the veteran wideout been able to complete the catch, and he didn't see another opportunity after that second-quarter target. His 12 offensive snaps ranked just above Skyy Moore (10 snaps) on the wide receiver depth chart. If Marquise Brown (shoulder) isn't ready to return Week 2 versus the Bengals, Smith-Schuster will get another opportunity to work as Kansas City's No. 4 wideout.
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Chiefs' JuJu Smith-Schuster: Joining Kansas City
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Smith-Schuster is signing with the Chiefs, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Kansas City was his first stop after a five-year stint in Pittsburgh, with Smith-Schuster catching 78 of 101 targets for 933 yards and three TDs in 16 regular-season games for the Chiefs in 2022. He had only 89 yards in three playoff appearances in that year and then managed only 260 yards in 11 games last season after signing a three-year contract with the Patriots. Released by New England after a couple weeks of training camp, the 27-year-old now will try to reestablish himself in Kansas City, where he'll likely start off in a depth role and may even have to prove he's worthy of a spot on the 53-man roster.
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JuJu Smith-Schuster: Being released by New England
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The Patriots have released Smith-Schuster.
Smith-Schuster, who logged 11 snaps without a target in Thursday's preseason opener, will now have an opportunity to catch on elsewhere on the heels of a 2023 campaign in which he recorded a 29-260-1 line on 47 targets in 11 regular-season contests. By parting ways with the 27-year-old, the Patriots now have one less option to consider in what remains a crowded wideout corps.
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Patriots' JuJu Smith-Schuster: Working ahead of youngsters
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Smith-Schuster and K.J. Osborn were the first wide receivers through drills Thursday, Henry McKenna of FOX Sports reports.
The new coaching staff in New England unsurprisingly seems to be deferring to the most experienced players at the start of training camp, but fantasy drafters figure to remain more interested in rookies Ja'Lynn Polk and Javon Baker as well as second-year pro DeMario Douglas. Competition for WR roles should be wide open, perhaps giving Smith-Schuster a chance to revive his career if he isn't totally washed up from a physical standpoint. Reports from spring practices weren't especially promising in that regard, even though Smith-Schuster is only 27 years old.
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Patriots' JuJu Smith-Schuster: Fails to impress during OTAs
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Smith-Schuster didn't look explosive at spring practices even though he says he's healthier than he was last year, according to Chad Graff of The Athletic.
Graff notes that Smith-Schuster may end up competing with Kayshon Boutte, Tyquan Thornton and Jalen Reagor for one or two roster spots, with the locks at WR likely being DeMario Douglas, Kendrick Bourne (knee), K.J. Osborn and rookies Ja'Lynn Polk and Javon Baker. The final math will partially depend on whether the Patriots keep Reagor as a kick return specialist or prefer to deploy a returner that also has a considerable role on offense (e.g. Douglas or RB Antonio Gibson). Either way, Smith-Schuster's guaranteed $7 million salary won't necessarily ensure him of a spot on the team after he had 260 receiving yards in 11 games last season. Knee surgery last offseason may have impacted his speed and strength, but it was head and ankle injuries that ultimately led to six absences.
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Patriots' JuJu Smith-Schuster: Played through injury in 2023
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Smith-Schuster said Monday at the start of OTAs that he never reached 100 percent health during the 2023 season, Chris Mason of The Springfield Republican reports.
Smith-Schuster said the last 12 months have made a "big difference," and he estimated that last offseason he was only at 60 percent health due to a lingering knee injury. Across 11 games in 2023, he was an afterthought in New England's offense, finishing with just a 29-260-1 receiving line despite little established competition at the position. If truly healthier and now able to move better, Smith-Schuster could earn more consistent targets from Jacoby Brissett and Drake Maye, though the Patriots' wide receiver corps has gotten more crowded with the additions of rookies Ja'Lynn Polk and Javon Baker, plus free-agent addition K.J. Osborn.
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Patriots' JuJu Smith-Schuster: Lands on IR
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The Patriots have placed Smith-Schuster (ankle) on injured reserve.
With Smith-Schuster on IR and slated to miss the Patriots' final two games this season, DeVante Parker, Demario Douglas, Jalen Reagor, Tyquan Thornton and Kayshon Boutte (illness, out this week) are in line to handle the team's WR duties in Weeks 17 and 18. Smith-Schuster thus finishes the 2023 campaign with a 29-260-1 line on 47 targets in 11 games.
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Patriots' JuJu Smith-Schuster: Third straight absence Week 17
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Smith-Schuster (ankle) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Bills.
Smith-Schuster will miss a third consecutive game Sunday. He'll have one more chance to take the field in Week 18 against the Jets before the wide receiver's disappointing 2023 campaign comes to an end. DeVante Parker and Demario Douglas should continue to lead New England's receiving corps in Week 17, with Jalen Reagor, Tyquan Thornton and Kayshon Boutte occupying depth roles.
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Patriots' JuJu Smith-Schuster: Not practicing Friday
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Smith-Schuster (ankle) wasn't present for Friday's practice, Evan Lazar of the Patriots' official site reports.
Smith-Schuster didn't practice Thursday, so the wide receiver's continued absence Friday clouds his status for Sunday's game against the Bills. If Smith-Schuster remains sidelined this weekend, DeVante Parker, Demario Douglas and Jalen Reagor would be in line to lead the Patriots' Week 17 WR corps.
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Patriots' JuJu Smith-Schuster: Logs limited practice
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Smith-Schuster (ankle) was a limited participant at practice Wednesday.
Smith-Schuster closed out Week 16 prep last Friday as a non-participant in practice before being ruled out ahead of Sunday's 26-23 win over the Broncos. The veteran wideout's limited participation Wednesday indicates that he could return to action this weekend against the Bills, but Smith-Schuster will need to practice fully by Friday in order to avoid a Week 17 injury designation.
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Patriots' JuJu Smith-Schuster: Won't play Sunday
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Smith-Schuster (ankle) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Broncos.
Smith-Schuster logged limited practices Wednesday and Thursday, but he didn't participate in any capacity Friday and will miss his third game of the season as a result. In Smith-Schuster's absence, DeVante Parker and Demario Douglas are in line to lead the Patriots' wide receiver corps, with Jalen Reagor and Tyquan Thornton also being candidates to mix in.
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Patriots' JuJu Smith-Schuster: Not seen at Friday's practice
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Smith-Schuster (ankle) wasn't spotted on the field for the start of Friday's practice, Evan Lazar of the Patriots' official site reports.
Smith-Schuster was a limited participant Wednesday and Thursday, so his apparent absence from Friday's session is noteworthy. The Patriots will release their final Week 16 injury report later Friday, when it will be known whether the wideout carries a designation into Sunday's game against the Broncos.
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Patriots' JuJu Smith-Schuster: Reps capped again Thursday
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Smith-Schuster (ankle) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice.
Smith-Schuster has been a limited participant in both of the Patriots' first two Week 16 practices, and he may need to upgrade to full activity Friday to guarantee his availability for Sunday's game in Denver. The wideout was listed as a limited participant on all three of New England's practice reports last week before he was made inactive ahead of the Patriots' 27-17 loss to the Chiefs.
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Patriots' JuJu Smith-Schuster: Limited practice Wednesday
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Smith-Schuster (ankle) was a limited participant at practice Wednesday.
Smith-Schuster turned in a trio of limited practices last week as well but was inactive for Sunday's 27-17 loss to the Chiefs. With that in mind, the veteran wideout will presumably need to upgrade to full activity by Friday in order to avoid an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Broncos.
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Patriots' JuJu Smith-Schuster: Inactive Sunday
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Smith-Schuster (ankle) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Chiefs.
Smith-Schuster logged limited practices this week and was listed as questionable for the contest, but the veteran wideout won't be available Sunday and will target a potential return to action Dec. 24 against the Broncos. In his absence, DeVante Parker, Demario Douglas, Tyquan Thornton and Jalen Reagor are New England's available wide receivers in Week 15.
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Patriots' JuJu Smith-Schuster: Not expected to face Chiefs
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Smith-Schuster (ankle), who is officially listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Chiefs, isn't expected to play, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Smith-Schuster is coming off a season-best 90-yard receiving performance in the Patriots' Week 14 win over the Steelers, but he came out of that game nursing an ankle injury and doesn't look as though he'll be able to play through the health concern one week later. However, the Patriots will get reinforcement to their receiving corps with Demario Douglas (concussion) returning from a two-game absence, and with DeVante Parker (knee) is expected to suit up despite also being listed as questionable. Official word on Smith-Schuster's status will arrive when the Patriots release their inactive list approximately 90 minutes before Sunday's 1 p.m. ET kickoff.
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Patriots' JuJu Smith-Schuster: Listed questionable for Week 15
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Smith-Schuster (ankle) is questionable for Sunday's game against the Chiefs.
Smith-Schuster got in a week of limited practices and should be good to go for Week 15, per Mike Reiss of ESPN.com. This will be the second straight game the veteran pass catcher will face one of his former teams after spending the 2022 season with the Chiefs. Smith-Schuster went for 6-90-0 against the Steelers in Week 14. Fellow WRs DeVante Parker (knee) and Tyquan Thornton (hamstring) also are listed as questionable.
Smith-Schuster (ankle) was a limited participant in practice Wednesday.
In a 21-18 win over the Steelers this past Thursday, Smith-Schuster played all but one of the Patriots' 57 snaps on offense and finished the day with four catches for a season-high 90 yards on six targets. The heavy snap count and increased involvement in the passing game were due in part to the Patriots' receiving corps being depleted by injury, but assuming Smith-Schuster's ankle issue isn't anything that keeps him from playing Sunday against the Chiefs, he could face more competition for snaps and targets. DeVante Parker (knee), Demario Douglas (concussion) and Kayshon Boutte (shoulder) were all sidelined against the Steelers but could be back in action Sunday after joining Smith-Schuster as limited participants in Wednesday's practice.
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Patriots' JuJu Smith-Schuster: Active versus Steelers
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Smith-Schuster (ankle) is active for Thursday night's game against the Steelers, Evan Lazar of the Patriots' official site reports.
Smith-Schuster approached the contest listed as questionable after being listed as a limited participant on practice reports Monday through Wednesday, but he'll be available Thursday, unlike Demario Douglas (concussion), DeVante Parker (knee) and Kayshon Boutte (shoulder). In the Patriots' 6-0 loss to the Chargers in Week 13, Smith-Schuster recorded just one catch for 11 yards on three targets. The veteran wideout remains a speculative lineup option versus Pittsburgh, given his modest overall production this season and the overall state of New England's offense ahead of Week 14 action.
