Report: Thumb injury to sideline Patriots' Julian Edelman for 3 weeks
New England Patriots veterans report for the start of training camp on Wednesday, but while the team adjusts to life without retired tight end Rob Gronkowski, it will also be without the reigning Super Bowl MVP, at least for a little while.
Thumb injury sidelines Edelman
ESPN is reporting that receiver Julian Edelman is expected to be sidelined for about three weeks due to a left thumb injury.
Edelman hosted a football camp for kids over the weekend. While it seems like he wore red gloves to try to cover up the injury, the outline of a brace could be seen through the gloves.
NFL Network said it is “mild trauma,” and it is unclear when it occurred.
If it is a three-week injury, Edelman will miss a good chunk of training camp but he should be good to go for the start of the regular season.
Here’s a photo of Edelman at the camp from Boston station WBZ, where you can see there’s something under the glove on his left hand:
Young, inexperienced receivers will get extra reps
With Edelman, who had 74 catches in 12 games last year (he was suspended for the first four games of the season for violating the league rule on performance-enhancers), not on the field, the Patriots’ young receivers will get extra looks from Tom Brady.
Braxton Berrios, a 2018 late-round pick who spent his rookie season on injured reserve, could benefit the most from Edelman’s absence as he projects as a slot receiver.
This year’s first-round pick, N’Keal Harry, could get more needed attention from Brady as well.
Of the nine receivers New England currently has on the roster who are not Edelman, only Philip Dorsett has played a game with the team.
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