We heard yesterday that the Patriots will receive three major players back in 2021, but another veteran’s prospects remain uncertain. Ian Rapoport from NFL.com reports (via Twitter) that veteran dropped Julian Edelman will continue to recover and recover from a knee injury that shortened his 2020 campaign.
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Rapoport notes that Edelman still wants to play next season, but the main concern is whether his knee will be able to withstand the rigors of another NFL season. No decision has been made, but Edelman’s status in 2021 will be directly attributed to his health. If he feels he has overcome his knee injury, he will probably be on the field.
The 34-year-old appeared in the first six New England games in the 2020 season. Thanks (in part) to the fact that he was seeing targets from people like Cam Newton, Jarrett Stidham, and Brian Hoyer rather than Tom Brady, Edelman struggled to present consistent figures. In addition to a 179-yard performance and eight catches in Week 2, the wideout was limited to just 13 receptions for 136 yards and no scores in its other five games.
Of course, the former Super Bowl MVP is only a season away from a 1,000-yard campaign, so it may be too early to dismiss Edelman. The veteran is also the only reliable pickup option currently on the New England list; former first round player N’Keal Harry fought in the first two seasons of the NFL, and the team is eyeing former non-hired free agents Jakobi Meyers and Gunner Olszewski to the top of the depth graph. If Edelman is healthy enough to play next season, we must establish a statistical rebound.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.