Patriots lose prime target as Edleman is ruled out for season

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — New England wide receiver Julian Edelman will miss the 2017 season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in a preseason game.

The Patriots announced Saturday that Edelman, Tom Brady’s favorite target and one of the NFL’s most clutch receivers, would be sidelined all season after the non-contact injury in the first quarter of Friday night’s preseason game at Detroit.

Edelman, 31, headed downfield after a catch and when he planted his right foot into the turf, he tore the ligament.

Edelman, whose spectacular fourth-quarter reception helped the Patriots’ record comeback win in the Super Bowl in February, signed a two-year contract extension earlier this year.

New England also cut defensive end Kony Ealy, who was acquired in a trade with Carolina in March.

Jaguars name Bortles starting QB … for now

Blake Bortles is getting another shot as Jacksonville’s starting quarterback.

Coach Doug Marrone made the surprising announcement Saturday, naming Bortles his starter for the opener at Houston and ending any uncertainty heading into the preseason finale.

Marrone’s decision came a little more than a week after he opened up the job and pleaded with Bortles and veteran Chad Henne to “go out there and take it.”

Bortles did enough in Thursday’s exhibition loss to Carolina to keep the starting job he’s had the last three years.

Bills QB Taylor suffers concussion

Buffalo Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor was removed from Saturday’s game against Baltimore with a concussion.

The injury occurred at the end of the Bills’ second possession of the game. On a thirddown play, Taylor was sacked by linebacker Matthew Judon and landed hard on the turf. The quarterback was slow getting off the field, and he did not return for the Bills’ next set of downs.

Odds and ends

Denver quarterback Paxton Lynch left Saturday’s game against Green Bay with an injury to his passing shoulder. … Cowboys linebacker Anthony Hitchens was sidelined by a knee injury and guard Chaz Green by an ankle injury in the second quarter of Dallas’ game against Oakland. The Cowboys’ Ezekiel Elliott had eight touches (six carries for 18 yards, two receptions) in 10 plays in his only series of the exhibition season.