The Patriots suspect that wide receiver Julian Edelman suffered a torn right ACL in the first quarter of their game against the Lions on Friday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports (Twitter link). He’ll undergo an MRI on Saturday.
Edelman departed after succumbing to a non-contact injury on an 18-yard catch and then went to the locker room on a cart. He hauled in three passes for 52 yards in limited action, once again displaying his importance to New England’s Tom Brady-led offense.
Edelman, who has emerged as one of the NFL’s premier wideouts in recent years, finished fourth in the league in both targets per game (9.8) and receptions (98) during the Patriots’ Super Bowl-winning 2016 campaign. He was also one of many postseason heroes for the squad, as he hauled in 21 playoff catches to give him 89 for his nine-year career. Only Jerry Rice (151) and Reggie Wayne (93) have amassed more playoff grabs than the 31-year-old Edelman, who looks like a shoo-in to at least surpass the latter at some point. Unfortunately for the Patriots and Edelman, though, it doesn’t appear he’ll accomplish that feat this season.
The recipient of a two-year, $11MM contract extension in June, Edelman has combined for a whopping 356 receptions in 55 games since his breakout showing in 2013. That type of production will obviously be difficult to replace this season, but the Patriots are still equipped with plenty of quality targets. Newcomer Brandin Cooks will take the helm of what should be an Edelman-less receiving corps, while Chris Hogan and Malcolm Mitchell also figure to make sizable impacts. What’s more, the Pats likely have the best tight end duo in the league – Rob Gronkowski and Dwayne Allen – as well as established pass-catching running backs in James White and Dion Lewis. Brady will have no shortage of options at his disposal this year, then, but his favorite choice is unlikely to be a factor as the team goes for its sixth Lombardi Trophy.
Yikes.
Ugh.
Oh no. They will go 15-1 instead of 16-0… when it rains it pours.
They will still easily win the division but this will be a blow to them in the playoffs, especially against teams that can defend the run very well but can’t defend the quick throws across the middle–namely the Steelers and Raiders.
You have 5% that genuinely feels bad for the guy.
And then the other 95% that had him on their fantasy football roster.
Inside word a deal in the works to send Randall Cobb of the Packers to the Patriots for Tony Ealy plus a third Rd pick to the Packers in 2018. Don’t tell me Belichik didn’t crap a brick when Edelman went down!!
Why does this make sense for GB?
You’re dreaming. Rodgers is about trust with his WRs. He has 3 he actually trusts in Jordy/Cobb/Adams. Plus Adams has shaped early signs of injuries in his career.
Looks like your inside word isn’t very much on the inside considering Ealy just got cut.
And the Trump curse begins…
Yeah that curse really hurt them last year…
Tom, Bill, n Mr. Craft have already reached out too Megatron…..he’s pondering it eyes open, head on pillow, in the dark, right now…..n every cpl minutes he disturbs his wife w/loud shouts of “YES !” See these fist of uptown fancy nugget laden power rings….U want 1….?
Too bad for them, the lions still own his rights
if he came back the Lions would have cap problems. they would pretty much have to trade him.
Definitely won’t hurt as much in the regular season but, is a BIG loss in the playoffs.