Pats Suspect ACL Tear For Julian Edelman
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.
Julian Edelman Suffers Knee Injury
Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman exited the team’s game against the Lions in the first quarter on Friday after he suffered a non-contact right knee injury, the Pats confirmed. Edelman limped off the field after an 18-yard reception and then went to the locker room on a cart. His injury looks “consistent” with an ACL tear, Dr. David Chao of Sirius XM tweets.
Edelman, who’s in his ninth season with the Patriots, has long been one of quarterback Tom Brady‘s favorite targets, having amassed 425 receptions and 24 touchdowns during his time in New England. The 31-year-old totaled 98 catches, a career-best 1,106 yards and three touchdowns last season and tallied 21 more receptions for 342 yards and a score during the Patriots’ Super Bowl-winning playoff run. Edelman ranks third all-time in postseason catches (89) and has been part of two Super Bowl championship teams in New England, which awarded him a two-year, $11MM contract extension in June.
A severe injury to Edelman would ostensibly damage the Patriots’ chances of winning their sixth title of the Brady/Bill Belichick era this season, though their offense would remain in an enviable position even without him. The Pats continue to boast offseason acquisition Brandin Cooks, Chris Hogan, Malcolm Mitchell and Danny Amendola at wideout, while Rob Gronkowski and trade pickup Dwayne Allen lead their tight ends. They also possess multiple pass-catching running backs in James White – who, like Edelman, was instrumental in the Pats’ Super Bowl LI win over the Falcons – and Dion Lewis.
Patriots Shopping Kony Ealy
The Patriots have gauged the trade market for Kony Ealy, sources tell Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (on Twitter). Ealy reportedly hasn’t lived up to expectations this offseason and Pelissero says he’s someone to keep an eye on in tonight’s preseason game as the Patriots evaluate their options. 
The Pats acquired Ealy in a trade with the Panthers that saw them move down from the No. 64 pick in the second round to the No. 72 selection in the third round. The hope was that Ealy would fill the pass rushing void left by Rob Ninkovich‘s retirement. Instead, the 25-year-old has been running with the second string unit.
It makes sense that the Patriots would consider moving on from Ealy considering his shaky performance this summer, but the Patriots are paper thin in the pass rush department after losing rookie Derek Rivers to a torn ACL. If the Patriots were to dump Ealy, they’d likely promote Lawrence Guy to the starting bookend opposite Trey Flowers, leaving fourth-round pick Deatrich Wise as the first DE off of the bench. If the Patriots trade Ealy, they better have their next course of action already mapped out.
Ealy is slated to make just $800K in 2017 and his salary is not guaranteed.
Opinion: Pats Need A Defensive End
The Patriots‘ lack of a legitimate pass rushing defensive end is a serious weakness, Albert Breer of The MMQB (video link) opines. The Pats lost third-round pick Derek Rivers for the season and Breer hears that trade acquisition Kony Ealy hasn’t looked all that sharp in practice. With a lack of depth at defensive end, Breer believes that the Patriots will be looking into some out-of-house options.
Patriots’ Derek Rivers Done For Season?
Derek Rivers’ rookie season has ended before it could even start. The team fears that the defensive end has suffered a season-ending knee injury, according to Field Yates and Mike Reiss of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Specifically, Rivers has suffered a torn ACL and sprained LCL, per the initial MRI, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Additional testing will likely confirm that surgery is needed.
Rivers was injured during a kickoff coverage drill on Wednesday. It’s a bad break for both the player and the team as Rivers was expected to pitch in at both defensive end and outside linebacker in the wake of Rob Ninkovich‘s retirement.
Rivers was a third-round pick in this year’s draft, but he wound up being the team’s highest draft choice after the Pats sent their first-round pick to the Saints for wide receiver Brandin Cooks and dealt their second-round choice to the Panthers for defensive end Kony Ealy.
The injury could prompt the Patriots to look at free agent options. There aren’t a ton of high-impact edge rushers left, but Dwight Freeney is one of the more notable names left on the board. As a pass rush specialist for the Falcons last year, Freeney finished out with 3.0 sacks and ten tackles in the regular season.
Volin: Patriots May Have To Keep Garoppolo In 2018, Regardless Of Cost
We heard last week that Jacoby Brissett‘s place on the Patriots‘ roster may not be safe, and Ben Volin of the Boston Globe doubled down on that report this week. Volin reiterated that Brissett’s performance in the spring and in training camp has left much to be desired, and he says it is fair to wonder whether the Patriots refused to deal Jimmy Garoppolo because they believe Garoppolo represents their future, or because they have no faith in Brissett should Tom Brady be forced to miss time (in truth, it is surely some combination of the two). In any event, Volin opines that New England may have to keep Garoppolo next year, even if that means putting the franchise tag on him (at an estimated $25-26MM cost). After all, the team will still be loaded with talent and should be a championship contender in 2018, but a Brady injury could waste all of that talent if the No. 2 QB cannot adequately replace him.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/11/17
Here are today’s minor moves.
- The Vikings placed Bishop Sankey on IR, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (on Twitter). Minnesota signed the former Titans second-round pick to a reserve/futures contract in January, but an MRI Friday revealed Sankey tore an ACL. He will miss the season. Sankey hasn’t played in a game since 2015.
- Cut by both the 49ers and Jets in August, Bruce Ellington caught on with a third team this month. The Texans agreed to terms with the wide receiver/return specialist, John McClain of the Houston Chronicle reports. The Jets waived Ellington with an injury designation, but a Friday workout with the Texans provided a green light for the franchise to sign him. The Texans are currently reeling at wideout. In addition to Will Fuller‘s absence, Braxton Miller and DeAndrew White aren’t practicing. Ellington missed all of last season with a torn hamstring.
- The Jaguars signed veteran running back Jonathan Grimes and waived running back Tyler Gaffney with an injury designation, the team announced. Grimes is a five-year NFL veteran whose most notable work came as a backup for the Texans from 2012-16. He gained 455 yards from scrimmage in 2015, the final year Arian Foster suffered a severe injury.
- Defensive end Keionta Davis agreed to terms with the Patriots, who cut cornerback Dwayne Thomas to make room, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com tweets. A rookie out of Chattanooga, Davis was invited to the Combine but wasn’t drafted or signed after the draft.
- The Chargers re-signed tight end Matt Weiser, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reports (on Twitter). A University of Buffalo alum, Weiser spent time with the Bolts during their final San Diego camp last summer but was cut just before the season.
- The Colts reached injury settlements with tight end (and former VCU basketball standout) Mo Alie-Cox and wideout Harvey Binford, Wilson tweets.
- Mykkele Thompson‘s time as a Giants secondary cog could be coming to a close. After Big Blue cut Thompson — a fifth-round pick in 2015 — on Thursday, he cleared waivers. NJ.com’s Dan Duggan expects an injury settlement to follow (Twitter link). Duggan notes this Thompson is battling a minor quadriceps injury.
Kony Ealy Not A Patriots Roster Lock
Newly-acquired defensive end Kony Ealy is in a “legitimate fight” to earn a place on the Patriots roster, opines Mike Reiss of ESPN.com. Thought to be a contender for a starting job (especially following Rob Ninkovich‘s retirement), Ealy has been practicing with New England’s reserves, per Reiss, who indicates Ealy simply “hasn’t clicked” since joining the defending Super Bowl champions. The Patriots essentially got Ealy for free from the Panthers, as they moved down only eight picks in the draft to pick up the 25-year-old. He’s signed through the 2017 season, but his $800K salary isn’t guaranteed.
Vince Wilfork Retires From NFL
Vince Wilfork is moving on from football. The longtime defensive lineman took to Twitter on Monday morning to announce his retirement. 
All offseason long, Wilfork has wrestled with the decision.
“Mentally, I’m where I’ve been all this while, I’m 50-50,” Wilfork said in June, while maintaining that he could pick things up late in the summer if necessary. “Camp now is like ‘Camp Cupcake.’ You’re only in pads for 10 days,” he said. “I mean, it’s so different now, so anybody that thinks I’m missing because I want to miss training camp or preseason, man, that is baloney.”
Wilfork, a 13-year veteran, spent his first 11 seasons in New England and the previous two in Houston. Last year, he completed his 12th straight year in which he started in all of his appearances. The 35-year-old took part in 15 of the Texans’ regular-season games in 2016 and picked up 21 tackles along the way.
Although he had only 16 career sacks, the advanced metrics at Pro Football Focus show that he was among the game’s elite between 2006 and 2012. Once he’s eligible, Wilfork is a candidate to be enshrined in the Hall of Fame.
Wilfork leaves the game with five Pro Bowls, one First-Team All-Pro selection, and a Super Bowl ring from the 2014 season. We here at PFR wish him the best in retirement.
Danny Amendola Did Not Consider Retirement, Playing For Anyone But Pats
- Patriots wide receiver Danny Amendola accepted a pay cut to remain in New England for the third consecutive season, but as Mike Reiss of ESPN.com writes, the 31-year-old Amendola (32 in November) never considered retirement, nor did he consider suiting up for anyone other than the Patriots. He again projects as the team’s fourth or fifth option at wide receiver, but he has grown comfortable with his limited role and at this point in his career he appears content to get a little burn while playing in a winning environment.
- Jacoby Brissett, the Patriots No. 3 signal-caller who got two starts last season in the wake of Tom Brady‘s suspension and Jimmy Garoppolo‘s injury, is in danger of being cut, as Ben Volin of the Boston Globe writes. Brissett did not have a strong spring, and with Brady showing no signs of slowing down and Garoppolo back as the No. 2 QB, New England could look to use Brissett’s roster spot on a linebacker, receiver, or defensive back.