Patriots’ Edelman ruled out for season
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — New England Patriots 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 noncontact 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 twoyear 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. Chiefs moving on without Ware
Chiefs coach Andy Reid floated the idea not long ago that he might keep his top four running backs when trimming the roster to 53 players next weekend.
That may not be such a difficult decision now.
The Chiefs could be without top running back Spencer Ware for the first portion of the season after he hurt his right knee in Friday night’s preseason game in Seattle. The initial diagnosis was a sprain but Ware was due for an MRI exam Saturday amid reports he injured one of his ligaments.
If that’s the case, he could miss anywhere from several weeks to the entire season.
“He gets his MRI today so I think we just have to see on it,” Reid said Saturday. “It’s not one of those things that’s clear-cut, endof-the-season or I’d tell you. That’s not what it is.”
Ware was hurt early in the Chiefs’ third preseason game, when he tried to fight for a few extra yards on a carry deep in Seattle territory. He immediately grabbed at his right knee while trainers ran onto the field, and he wound up riding a cart to the locker room.
Jaguars sticking with Bortles as starter
The Jacksonville Jaguars are sticking with Blake Bortles — because of his legs.
Coach Doug Marrone selected Bortles as his starting quarterback for the season opener, a surprising turnabout that said more about the team’s offensive line than its signal callers.
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.”
Marrone said he “had enough information” to stay with Bortles. The third overall pick in the 2014 draft will make his 46th consecutive start when the Jaguars open Sept. 10 at Houston.
Going back to Bortles was a clear indictment of the team’s shaky offensive line, which has been underwhelming in three preseason games. The Jaguars are planning to start rookie Cam Robinson at left tackle and are undecided at left guard. The right side is far from rock solid, too.
“Blake has the ability to extend plays for us, which I think is going to be helpful in what we have to get done,” Marrone said.
Henne started Thursday’s exhibition game against the Panthers and had some decent moments, but the 10thyear pro also got sacked three times in the first half.
Bortles delivered his best outing of the preseason, finishing with a touchdown and an interception while keeping several plays alive with his legs.
Bills’ Tyrod Taylor suffers concussion
Buffalo Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor was removed from Saturday night’s game against the Baltimore Ravens 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.