The Patriots Place Julian Edelman on the Covid List

Charles Krupa. Shutterstock Images.

Advertisement

First things first. There's a human component to this. Even as we learn as we go along here, as more people contract this thing and we realize for young and healthy people it's not the death sentence we thought it was in the early phases of this thing, there's a natural fear for anyone who comes down with it that there'll be lasting health problems. So all the best wishes and prayers to Julian Edelman and his family, first, last and foremost.

That said, this is a blow to the team, no question about it. When you're coming off a game in which your wide receivers combined for 85 yards and Patrick Peterson was iso'd on an undrafted second year player, and your tight end depth chart is essentially a hologram, you need all the veteran help you can get. And no skill position player has meant more to this team over the last three years or so than Edelman. It's not even close. 

How important, exactly? How about the fact that he's missed the last five games and he's still third on the team in receiving yards. And is the only player on the roster averaging more than 50 yards per game. His potential return for the LA swing has been one of the reasons to believe they could have something that bears a rough resemblance to an NFL offense going forward. And, if I dare to dream so high, a berth in the expanded playoffs. 

I'd love to stay optimistic Edelman's return might still happen. They've been careful bringing him back from the surgery on his knee as it was, and maybe he wasn't expected to play either of the games next week. But seeing how the 'Rona kicked Cam Newton's ass for a couple of weeks, it's something that, like any flu, will take a toll on you even once you're over it. And so with December already here, it's fair to wonder if Edelman will play again this year. And what we're seeing right now, along with Isaiah Ford, might be the best we can do in 2020. 

But again, best wishes and godspeed to Edelman first. And a speedy recovery so he at least gets back on the field before we run out of time here. This year will simply not quit finding new ways to blow.