New England Patriots' JuJu Smith-Schuster Still a Respected Star (by Pittsburgh Steelers)
In Foxboro, JuJu Smith-Schuster is merely part of the current problem. But in Pittsburgh, he remains a respected part of the past.
The New England Patriots essentially "chose" Smith-Schuster over leading receiver Jakobi Myers in free agency last offseason. The decision isn't the only reason the Patriots possess one of the worst offenses in NFL history, but it certainly hasn't helped.
While Myers has bigger production on a better team, Smith-Schuster is an afterthought option on an offense that has mustered only 13 points the last three weeks and last Sunday was shut out, 6-0. For the 5-7 Las Vegas Radiers, Myers has 52 catches for 591 yards and touchdowns. For the 2-10 Pats, Smith-Schuster has just catches, 170 yards and one lone score.
During the Pats' historically three-week stretch where it has scored six, seven and zero points, Smith-Schuster has caught four passes for 30 yards. He had one for 11 in the shutout loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.
JuJu Smith-Schuster is still respected by the Steelers, if not the Patriots.
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Older, hampered by nagging injuries and running routes for quarterbacks Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe, Smith-Schuster is only a shadow of the elite receiver that had two seasons of 97+ catches and three with 7+ touchdowns for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Smith-Schuster returns to Pittsburgh Thursday night for the first time since leaving the Steelers in free agency, as his Patriots take on the Steelers at Acrisure Stadium in a prime-time game between struggling offenses.
Smith-Schuster caught 111 passes for 1,426 yards and made the Pro Bowl for the Steelers in 2018. He signed with the Kansas City Chiefs after the 2021 season and won a Super Bowl ring last season.
“The Patriots acquired some quality players by way of free agency that have to be prepared for," said Steelers coach Mike Tomlin, who drafted Smith-Schuster out of USC in 2017. "Juju, obviously, we’re very familiar with. Tough guy, football player. I’ve got a lot of respect for Juju.”
Signed to be the No. 1 receiver in offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien's new system, Smith-Schuster is just a cog in the wheel of the NFL's lowest-scoring outfit. He's fifth in targets and receptions for the Pats, behind a group that includes injured leading receiver Kendrick Bourne, running back Rhamondre Stevenson and rookie 6th-round draft choice Demario Douglas.
“I know he’s been limited in some ways due to injury," Tomlin said. "But got a lot of respect for him and the quality of work he provided for us when he was here and the type of player and teammate he was when he was here.”
