Troy Brown says N’Keal Harry is working to get fundamentals ‘where they need to be’
New England Patriots receiver N’Keal Harry saw a major uptick in snaps on Sunday during the team’s loss to the Buffalo Bills. But while his playing time jumped, the wideout did not muster a sizable increase in production.
With Nelson Agholor out and Kendrick Bourne on a snap count after missing the whole week of practice, Harry finished with six targets and two catches for 15 yards. He had one drop and quarter Mac Jones threw an interception intended for Harry.
Those looking for Harry’s breakout game need to keep waiting.
“I just want to see him keep working the way he’s been working this year. From day one since he got here, he’s been working hard and willing to do whatever it took to win this football team some games,” receivers coach Troy Brown said on Tuesday. “That’s all I can ask of him is to keep working and keep trying to get his fundamentals better and where they need to be.”
In his third season in the NFL, Harry continues to prove a disappointment. The former first-round pick has 12 receptions for 184 yards and no touchdowns over 11 appearances in 2021. He’s posting fewer yards per game and a lower catch percentage than he did in 2020 when he had 33 catches for 309 yards and two touchdowns. Harry has shown major progress as a run blocker, a role where he’s proven useful. As a true receiver, however, he’s still a work in progress.
The Patriots don’t have much of a prescription for his struggles. They’re hoping hard work — something that Harry has never stopped applying — will finally help the receiver break through.
“N’Keal’s been working hard, and I think he’s just got to continue to work hard, and he’s been practicing hard, doing all the things he can,” Jones said during an appearance on WEEI sports radio on Monday. “I don’t think it’s an effort issue. He’s definitely trying to get better just like all of us are.”
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