(Photo by Sebastian Widmann/Getty Images)
Some intriguing news hit the NFL wire as the New England Patriots decided to cut ties with one of their veteran players.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, former Pro Bowl wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster was released by the team just a day after their first preseason game.
Still just 27 years old, he can now sign with any team ahead of the start of the regular season.
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 has had a very interesting NFL career.
He broke into the league as a second-round pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers out of USC back in 2017 at just 20 years old.
While in the Steel City, he blossomed into one of the top pass-catchers in the game, putting up 111 receptions, 1,426 yards and seven touchdowns in his second season.
However, that remains the only 1,000-yard season of his career.
After five years in Pittsburgh, he would go on to help the Kansas City Chiefs win a Super Bowl in the 2022 season.
Then, he joined New England for the 2023 season and had a tough go of it.
With New England winning just four games, Smith-Schuster put up just 29 receptions for 260 yards and one touchdown in 11 games.
However, he is still just 27 and can immediately join any team that wants him.
Look for him to try to join a contender.
Perhaps the Chiefs come calling, or maybe the Steelers want him back for a reunion.
Time will tell to see which teams, if any, are interested in bringing him in.
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