The Patriots are dropping veteran names.
New England plans to waive receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, according to multiple reports on Friday.
The 27-year-old played one season in Foxboro, recording 29 catches for 260 yards and one touchdown in 11 games despite dealing with a concussion and a sprained ankle.
Smith-Schuster is in the second year of a three-year, $25.5 million contract and is guaranteed $7 million this season despite being released.
Smith-Schuster played 11 times in the Patriots’ preseason opener against the Panthers on Thursday night and was not targeted.
The former USC star has had an up-and-down career in the NFL.
Smith-Schuster burst onto the scene after being drafted in the second round by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2017, recording 58 catches for 917 yards and seven touchdowns.
Smith-Schuster blossomed into a star in his sophomore season, recording 111 catches for 1,426 yards and seven touchdowns and earning a Pro Bowl selection.
However, his final three years in the Steel City were plagued by serious shoulder and knee injuries and his performance did not live up to expectations.
In that span, Smith-Schuster totaled 154 catches for 1,512 yards and 12 touchdowns.
In 2022, the receiver signed a one-year prove-it contract with the Chiefs and recorded 78 catches for 933 yards and three touchdowns.
Although Smith-Schuster won Super Bowl 57 with Kansas City (including seven catches for 53 yards in the game), the team opted not to retain him.
After the Patriots and new head coach Jerrod Mayo signed KJ Osborne and drafted both Jalyn Polk and Javon Baker in April, Smith-Schuster was left watching from the outside.
Off the field, Smith-Schuster gained infamy for dancing on opposing team logos during the Steelers’ 2020 season, not to mention his controversial TikTok videos.
