JuJu Smith-Schuster Injury Update: Latest on Patriots' WR for fantasy football Week 1

JuJu Smith-Schuster will play for his third NFL team in seven seasons after signing a three-year, $33 million contract with the New England Patriots. Last year, he helped the Kansas City Chiefs win a second Super Bowl title in four seasons.

This time, he welcomes the challenge of being a top wide receiver for a team with a rich championship tradition. However, there’s a chance he might be sidelined for Week 1 of the 2023 NFL because of an injury concern shared by an NFL insider.

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JuJu Smith-Schuster's latest injury update

JuJu Smith-Schuster

When discussing the New England Patriots roster, Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer shared a shocking update regarding Smith-Schuster.

He said in a recent appearance on NBC Sports Boston:

“The underrated story here: JuJu Smith-Schuster’s knee is a mess, and that thing could explode at any point. And so, you almost have to keep an extra receiver because of that.”

However, Smith-Schuster refuted Breer’s claim in an interview with MassLive.com’s Karen Guregian.

The 2018 Pro Bowler mentioned:

“I don’t think my knee is a ticking time bomb. If anything, it’s something that’s getting stronger every day.”

The former USC standout also pointed out that the Patriots wouldn’t sign him to a three-year deal if he were dealing with a severe knee injury.

He added:

“I think the Patriots signed me because of what I’m truly capable of doing.”

Smith-Schuster also responded to Breer’s claim as a reporter trying to find a story.

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What happened to JuJu Smith-Schuster?

Smith-Schuster has an active presence on TikTok.

Smith-Schuster left in the third quarter of last year’s AFC Championship Game against the Cincinnati Bengals due to a knee injury. While he did not return in that game, he was healthy enough to play in Super Bowl LVII versus the Philadelphia Eagles.

He shared with Guregian that he went to Japan for a “clean-up” surgery on his knee after the Super Bowl. The long flight back to the United States caused swelling that forced him out of the Patriots’ mandatory mini-camps.

However, he hasn’t missed a session during the team’s training camp. He appeared in one preseason game and completed a one-yard reception against the Green Bay Packers.

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When will JuJu Smith-Schuster return?

Smith-Schuster started his career with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The conflicting claims between Breer and Smith-Schuster make determining the veteran wide receiver’s status for Week 1 challenging. If Breer’s report is accurate, the California native might miss the season opener.

Conversely, if Smith-Schuster is telling the truth, he will suit up for the six-time Super Bowl champions in Week 1 against the Eagles at home.