Julian Edelman’s Suspension Appeal Denied

Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman‘s appeal of his four-game suspension has failed, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link).

Edelman was suspended in early June following a violation of the NFL’s performance-enhancing drug policy, and his appeal was heard last Monday. NFL bans aren’t often overturned, so the fact that Edelman will be forced to serve his four-game suspension isn’t particularly surprising, although there was at least some mystery regarding Edelman’s failed test. Edelman, for his part, was expected to argue the league mishandled the documentation and delivery of his sample.

Edelman will miss contests against the Texans, Jaguars, Lions, and Dolphins as the Patriots complete the first quarter of their season, and his absence could give other New England wideouts a chance to produce, or even a better shot at making the club’s initial roster. Kenny BrittJordan MatthewsChris HoganCordarrelle PattersonMatt Slater, and Braxton Berrios are among the options that will be at Tom Brady‘s disposal while Edelman is sidelined.

Over his past four healthy seasons, Edelman has averaged 133 targets, 89 receptions, 956 yards, and five touchdowns per year. He was a major part of the Super Bowl-winning Patriots squad in 2016, hauling in 98 catches for a career-high 1,106 yards. However, the 32-year-old Edelman hasn’t been on the field for more than a year, as a torn ACL ended his 2017 campaign before it began.

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