Polk has caught 10 of his 26 targets, including 2 of 13 in his last three games. When coach Jerod Mayo told the media the rookie needed to get over a “mental hump,” Polk pushed back, insisting that he had “the best hands in the league” and saying his drops weren’t an issue.
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Boutte, a 2023 sixth-round pick who caught two passes and appeared in five games last year, has earned a more significant role this season, but expressed dissatisfaction with having to ask for it. For Boutte’s two biggest catches — a 33-yard gain against Jacksonville and a 40-yard touchdown against Houston — he intervened himself.
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“For me, personally, in the game, I get frustrated when I’m not getting thrown the ball, knowing that I caught every ball that was thrown to me this season,” Boutte said. “So I just feel like I would always go to the sideline and demand the ball. Whether it was that deep ball, I asked for that. The Texans game, I asked for that. I feel like I shouldn’t have to really ask.”
Related: Unconventional preview: We know about the Patriots' misery, but the Jets are almost as bad
Osborn, signed in the offseason to a one-year deal, was on track to be inactive for the second time this season before DeMario Douglas experienced food poisoning to the extent that it jeopardized his availability. So Osborn played against the Jaguars in London last Sunday and caught a touchdown pass.
After the game, Osborn reposted a screenshot of a message from NFL agent Brandon Abdala that shared support as they “figure out this situation.” When asked about the post, Osborn said he was trying to use it as motivation. When asked if he wanted a trade, Osborn called the question “an alley-oop.”
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“This is where I am,” he said. “This is the place I signed to be. A lot of things are out of my control. But I like to be where my feet are. Today I’m here. We’ll just rock with it as it goes.”
Offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt acknowledged the frustrations that come with not only low individual production but also losing, but urged the group to focus on the task at hand: doing their best in practice and trying to win this week against the Jets.
“Nobody’s going to be happy at 1-6,” Van Pelt said. “That’s the reality of it. But I think that room, in particular, needs to keep the focus inward. We have a big game this week. All of our focus should be on how we can get a W on Sunday.”
Van Pelt also relayed that the Patriots held a team meeting Thursday morning to reestablish the level of commitment required from players to turn their season around.
“We need to be better, work harder, rehab harder, refresh better, and take care of ourselves,” he said. “We’ve got to spend more time in the room. So, good meeting this morning, demanding more from everybody across the board.”
Related: Was Jerod Mayo too hard with his 'soft' comment? His players don't think so.
The meeting comes after Bourne called out some of his teammates following the loss in London, questioning their mind-set and dedication. Bourne clarified Thursday that he wasn’t referencing a specific player; rather, he wanted to highlight the impact individual choices can have on the team.
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“If we want to win, if we want to be great, if we want to win Super Bowls, go to the playoffs, we have to take care of our bodies,” Bourne said. “We have to train, we have to eat right, sleep, we have to do everything it takes to be great.
“There’s other teams that are doing everything, so if we’re doing the bare minimum, then we’re going to get the result we’re getting.”
Bourne, the most experienced player in the wide receiver room, is hopeful that he can be a resource in helping his teammates grow. He attributed the current discontent to a lack of maturity, noting how name-image-and-likeness deals have affected younger players’ attitudes and their adjustment to the pros.
“As a leader, I just have to tell the young guys — from my experience, how I’ve even gotten to this point was by being a team guy, not thinking about myself all the time,” Bourne said. “It’s tough. It’s not easy. It’s easy to say, but it’s hard when you’re out there running 30 routes and you don’t get the ball sometimes. There’s a happy medium.”
The Patriots’ leader in receiving yards, receptions, and targets is actually a tight end. Hunter Henry has become a reliable option for quarterback Drake Maye — Van Pelt called him Maye’s “security blanket” — with 11 catches on 14 targets for 133 yards and a touchdown.
Asked about the need to have a No. 1 go-to receiver, Van Pelt said that connection will develop naturally. Douglas, who led the team in receiving yards last year, would be a logical answer.
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As the team attempts to move forward, Bourne and Van Pelt downplayed the importance of individual stats, but recognized the challenge of maintaining a team-oriented attitude when the results aren’t there.
“Losing is creating all this drama,” Bourne said. “If we want to change anything, we have to win.”
Added Van Pelt, “I understand the frustration is part of losing football. The best way to take care of that is to get a win. I think our focus right now needs to be solely on the Jets.”
Nicole Yang can be reached at nicole.yang@globe.com.Follow her @nicolecyang.