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Julian Edelman suffered a torn ACL in last Friday’s preseason game against the Lions on an always dreaded non-contact injury. New England’s sixth all-time leading receiver will be sidelined the entirety of the 2017-18 season after signing a two-year extension through the 2019 season earlier this year that includes a guaranteed $2 million salary for the ’18 season.
Edelman, who is relentlessly tough and reliable, has also had his fair share of injuries. The Kent State QB-turned-WR has missed 9 games in the past 3 seasons and has had 18 documented injuries in his 8 NFL seasons, including at least four concussions. Not awful for a 5’10”, 200 pounder who makes a living putting himself in harm’s way, but still, not nothing.
Edelman made his first public comment since the injury in a statement posted to his Twitter account on Tuesday. The statement was very Edelman-esque.
The Patriots will likely rely much more heavily on the young hands of newly acquired Brandin Cooks, who last year with the Saints set a career-high in receiving yards with 1,173 and who the Patriots regarded highly enough to give up a first-round pick for.
When asked how his transition to a Belichickian system has gone thus far, Cooks replied:
“It’s like school,” he said. “If you pay attention, you’ll get good grades. You’ll get the answers right.”
If you don’t, Belichick will trade you to the Browns in the middle of the season for a third-round draft pick. Ain’t that right, Jamie Collins?
[h/t 12UP]