Patriots QB Tom Brady excited to get Julian Edelman back in action
A short week, which will now come for the New England Patriots following Sunday’s 38-7 stomping of the Dolphins and Thursday’s looming head-to-head with the Colts, can come with undeniable fatigue for all involved.
But not for Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman, whose four-game suspension for a violation of the league’s performance-enhancing drugs policy officially ended at 12:01 a.m. Monday “morning.” And you can count Patriots quarterback Tom Brady among those that are more than eager to see No. 11 back at the facilities tomorrow.
“It will be great to have him,” Brady said with a smile when asked about Edelman’s return. “I mean, we haven’t seen him in four weeks, but I know he’ll be ready. And it’s a short week, so I’m sure he’ll be in here ready to go.
The 32-year-old has essentially missed the last year and a half of meaningful football, as a torn ACL suffered in Week 3 of the 2017 preseason knocked Edelman out of play for all of last season, meaning his last actual game of importance dates all the way back to Super Bowl LI, which saw the Patriots overcome a 28-3 deficit.
It was in that 2017 campaign that Edelman set career-highs in both targets (159) and yards (1,106), and the hope is that Edelman’s return, even a year and eight months later, can help stabilize a Patriot offense that could always use another dependable option. Especially one that knows No. 12 as well as Edelman.
“Everyone loves Jules and loves having him back,” Brady said.
