Patriots WR Edelman out for season with knee injury
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - New England Patriots star wide receiver Julian Edelman will miss the 2017 season after tearing the ACL 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.
The 31-year-old Edelman headed downfield after a catch and when he planted his right foot into the turf, he tore the ligament.
Edelman, whose spectacular fourthquarter reception helped the Patriots’ record comeback win in the Super Bowl in February, signed a two-year contract extension earlier this year. He has been, by far, Brady’s top pass catcher with 436 receptions over the past four seasons, including the playoffs.
A quarterback in college at Kent State, Edelman joined the Patriots in 2009 and became one of Brady’s most reliable receivers the next year. Last season was one of his best with 98 catches for 1,106 yards. He’s also a dangerous punt returner.
Brady used the word “Gladiator” on Instagram in reference to Edelman.
Fortunately for New England, it is deep at receiver after trading for Brandin Cooks. It gets back Rob Gronkowski, the NFL’s most-feared tight end, from a back injury, and has Chris Hogan, who emerged last year as a quality wideout. Veteran Danny Amendola figures to see time in the slot with Edelman sidelined.
New England also cut defensive end Kony Ealy, whom it acquired in a trade with Carolina in March. It was a surprising move — if anything Bill Belichick does with his roster can be considered surprising.
Ealy, 25, spent three seasons with the Panthers and was best known for having three sacks in Super Bowl 50 against Denver.
Blake Bortles is getting another shot as Jacksonville’s starting quarterback.
Jaguars coach Doug Marrone made the surprising announcement Saturday, naming Bortles his starter for the season opener at Houston and ending any speculation heading into the preseason finale.
Marrone was scheduled to address his decision after practice. The call came a little more than a week after Marrone opened up the job and pleaded with Bortles and veteran Chad Henne to “go out there and take it.”
Bortles presumably did enough in Thursday’s exhibition loss to Carolina to keep the starting job he’s had the last three years. The third overall pick in the 2014 NFL draft will make his 46th consecutive start when the Jaguars open the season Sept. 10 at Houston.
The Buffalo Bills have signed longtime center Eric Wood to a two-year extension through the 2019 season.
Wood was drafted by the Bills with their second selection, the 28th overall pick, in the first round of the 2009 draft. The former Louisville star was selected to his first Pro Bowl in 2015.
Bills general manager Brandon Beane said, “We think he’s still playing well, a leader up front. He’s part of what we’re building going forward.”
The 31-year-old Wood switched from right guard to center in 2011. He’s known for his feisty nature and often is compared to old-school centers.
Wood twice has sustained season-ending injuries, breaking his left leg in 2009 and his right leg in 2016.
He played in only nine games last season after playing 16 in each of the previous three years.
— Wire services