JuJu Smith-Schuster Benched vs. Eagles; Frustrated With Patriots?

JuJu Smith-Schuster is ready to get back to work after he was removed from the final snaps from the New England Patriots Week 1 thriller against Philadelphia.

The first day at most new jobs is often an exercise in awkwardness and frustration. Even with a hefty payday, JuJu Smith-Schuster was no exception to the rule.

In his first excursion on a three-year, $25 million contract to ostensibly serve as the New England Patriots' top receiver, Smith-Schuster was not relieved of duty for the final stanzas of a Week 1 thriller against the Philadelphia Eagles but played a dozen fewer snaps than day three rookie Kayshon Boutte. Another late pick, Demario Douglas, took over his role in the slot in the last stand of an eventual 25-20 defeat.

There's not much time for Smith-Schuster to privately find his rhythm: New England (0-1) opens divisional play on Sunday night in prime time, facing the Miami Dolphins at Gillette Stadium (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC). To his credit, Smith-Schuster is taking the snub in stride, reasoning that he's played too long to be any sort of raw over a lack of playing time.

"I’m not frustrated at all. I’ve been in this league way too long,” Smith-Schuster said on Friday, per Andrew Callahan of the Boston Herald. “When the time is called, the opportunity is called for me, I’ll be ready.”

Smith-Schuster, a seventh-year pro, ended the day catching four of his even targets, earning 33 yards in defeat. The final stages of summer have been a roller-coaster for the former Pittsburgh Steeler and Kansas City Chief, as his status as the Patriots' top target in the wake of Jakobi Meyers' absence is in doubt due to not only a series of medical woes but the potential rise of Kendrick Bourne, who scored two of the Patriots' three touchdowns on Sunday.

If Smith-Schuster is still ailing he's either not showing, refusing to use it as an excuse ... or both.

"I think it’s 100 percent. I’ve been working on it every day,” Smith-Schuster said of a knee that was said to be prone to "bursting." “It’s nice to be here and find a nice routine, get in with the trainer every single day to go out there and perform.”

Smith-Schuster's true standing with the New England franchise could be revealed in an early big game on Sunday: the Patriots have a golden opportunity to build on the offensive momentum against a South Beach group that allowed 433 yards against the Los Angeles Chargers last Sunday, though they managed to eke out a 36-34 win behind a dominant offensive showing (536 yards, including 466 from the arm of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa).