Marqise Lee was on his way.

A second-round pick in 2014, the 6-foot receiver battled some minor injuries through his first two NFL seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars. A hamstring injury forced him out of three games his rookie year and then he missed six games the next season due to another hamstring injury.

However, in 2016, it all came together.

Lee played in all 16 games that year, finishing with a career-best 63 receptions for 851 yards and three touchdowns. In 2017, he caught 56 passes for 702 yards and three scores. The performance earned him a four-year, $38 million extension with the Jaguars.

Three years later, that all seems like a distant dream.

Since that 2017 season, this receiver has played in six games total. He missed the entire 2018 season with a knee injury. Last year, he played in just six games due to a shoulder injury. This offseason, Lee signed a one-year deal worth up to $1.0475 million with the Patriots. The once-promising receiver comes to New England hoping to stay healthy and revitalize his career.

“For me, my biggest thing was I just knew the last couple of years I didn’t have the opportunity to do the things I needed to do as a player. I felt like me choosing New England to go there this season, in a sense, to try and get back to myself,” Lee said on Wednesday. “I feel like this place is the perfect place to get back and try to get back to yourself … Very strict, basically all about football and handling your business. I feel like I was a little bit off on that point these last two injuries I had. I just want to get back on track and get everything on point. I felt like New England was the right place for me.”

Lee has a golden opportunity to get back on track in Foxborough. This offseason, the Patriots didn’t make any major moves to improve their wide receiver position. They lost Phillip Dorsett and signed Damiere Byrd (who caught 32 passes for 359 yards last season) before signing Lee. In the NFL draft, the team didn’t draft a receiver, either. Instead, they brought in four undrafted free agents.

Right now, the Patriots have three who appear to be locks at receiver with Julian Edelman, Mohamed Sanu and N’Keal Harry. After that, the final one or two spots will come down to players like Jakobi Meyers, Gunner Olszewski, Byrd and Lee.

What Lee did in the NFL in 2016 and 2017 is unmatched compared to the players he’s competing with, but he has to prove he’s healthy and can stay healthy. After tasting some success in the league, Lee admits the last two years (where he caught three passes for 18 yards) has been challenging.

“It’s been quite difficult. With the knee injury and then coming back with the shoulder injury, it’s been difficult but it’s been a task that I’ve quite enjoyed as far as quite knowing myself,” Lee said. “After these injuries, you have certain people who get down on themselves and want to shut it down. For me, it’s kind of like a motivating factor. I just want to see were I’m at, at this point. I’m eager to get back and play football, which I feel like I haven’t played for the last couple years. I’m just ready to get at it.”

Lee said this offseason has been tough. Due to coronavirus, players aren’t permitted at the stadium. They have video conference meetings and Lee is at home where he’s learning the playbook and trying to stay in shape. When players can return, he hopes to show the Patriots he’s healthy and can help.

“I’m the type of person who will give everything that the team needs to me to do.” Lee said ” … Whatever they need me to do at the end of the day is what I’m willing to do regardless of what it is. That’s my main focus. I haven’t had the opportunity to really stay healthy in the league so my main focus right now is really just staying healthy … I’m just here. They need a body, a healthy body; I’m here to rock out and try to do as much as I can.”

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