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Former Chiefs Wide Receiver Already Cut After Preseason Opener

Juju Smith-Schuster, who spent the 2022 season with the Chiefs, was released by the Patriots on Friday.

By Jovan Alford

Dec 11, 2022; Denver, Colorado, USA; Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster (9) pulls in a touchdown reception in the third quarter against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.
Dec 11, 2022; Denver, Colorado, USA; Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster (9) pulls in a touchdown reception in the third quarter against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High. / Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
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Kansas City Chiefs fans fondly remember Juju Smith-Schuster's impact in the 2022 season en route to their Super Bowl win over the Philadelphia Eagles. The veteran wide receiver posted 78 receptions (101 targets) for 933 yards and three touchdowns.

Smith joined the Chiefs in Mar. 2022 on a low-risk, high-reward one-year deal and turned his performance into a three-year, $25.5 million with the New England Patriots. However, the vet wide receiver struggled to make a huge impact with the Pats last season, who decided to part ways.

According to the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Patriots released Smith-Schuster on Friday after their preseason opener against the Carolina Panthers on Thursday night. Smith-Schuster didn't do much against the Panthers despite playing 11 snaps.

The decision by the Patriots to part ways with Smith-Schuster wasn’t a surprise, given how he played last season in New England. 

The former Chiefs wideout could not find that same consistency with the Patriots, recording 29 receptions (47 targets) for 260 yards and a touchdown. It also did not help that Smith-Schuster missed the final four games of the 2023 campaign with an ankle injury.

Heading into Pats’ training camp this summer, the 27-year-old wide receiver understood he was on the bubble, but failed to make any waves in camp as he dropped down the depth chart.

Chiefs fans will be watching to see where Smith-Schuster lands this offseason and if he can return to the player he was in Kansas City in 2022.

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