When is the time to get concerned about JuJu Smith-Schuster?

The New England Patriots made an exciting move back in March when they signed pro bowl wide receiver Juju Smith-Schuster to a three-year $33 million deal. Coming off a Super Bowl win, Smith-Schuster looked ready to have an increased role with the Patriots.

Instead, Smith-Schuster has not been around at offseason workouts, and he is dealing with an injury. According to NFL Network’s Mike Giardi, the injury is something that he dealt with at the end of last season. Although it is early in the offseason, I think it may be time to time to be concerned about Smith-Schuster.

Smith-Schuster has been in the league for six seasons, and he has taken a beating. He has been reliable for most of his career, but he could be hitting a different point in his career. The injury history that he has and the fact that he is still dealing with an injury from last season is a major concern. 

The Patriots are counting on Smith-Schuster to be a huge part of the offense, and he has not been out there enough yet. This is a major issue for a player that just received a $33 million contract. I worry that he will be a step behind to start the season, and it could hurt his performance and the team. The biggest concern for the Patriots right now has to be that they may have invested in an injury-prone player that may never return to his peak form.

Smith-Schuster needs to get healthy by training camp, and most fans should be hoping that he is out there. I want to see Smith-Schuster and Mac Jones hit the ground running this season because I think they can be an exciting and entertaining duo.

The Smith-Schuster injury is one to monitor moving forward this summer.