If Ja’Lynn Polk is going to live up to his draft status, it’ll have to wait.

On Tuesday, the Patriots placed Polk and veteran linebacker Jahlani Tavai on the injured reserve. However, the team placed the ‘designated to return’ status on Tavai, which allows him to play later this season.

That status was not given to Polk, which means the 2024 second-round pick will miss the entire 2025 season.

Polk suffered a shoulder injury during the Patriots’ preseason opener against the Washington Commanders when he was tackled and landed on his right side. According to a source, the receiver needed surgery, and that ultimately ended his season.

Polk, 23, was drafted with the 37th overall pick in 2024. That decision was made to be controversial because the Patriots traded down from No. 34 with Los Angeles. The Chargers ended up drafting Ladd McConkey with that pick, and the receiver finished with 82 receptions, 1,149 yards, and seven touchdowns.

Polk finished his rookie season with 12 catches for 87 yards and two touchdowns. He underwent shoulder surgery in the offseason – and now will miss his second NFL season due to another.

Tavai missed most of the offseason due to an injury. The veteran linebacker suffered a calf injury in minicamp, but returned for training camp. Tavai practiced the first four days of camp, but missed the last 16 practices.

By placing him on the injured reserve, with the designated to return status, the Patriots have the option to take Tavai off the IR after four games.

Teams can designate up to eight players to return from the injured reserve.

Without Tavai, the Patriots kept four linebackers on their 53-man roster – Robert Spillane, Christian Elliss, Jack Gibbens, and Marte Mapu.

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