New England Patriots: Julian Edelman Should Play

He has had enough rest, it is time to get Julian Edelman back for the New England Patriots.

As the final week of the NFL regular season approaches, the New England Patriots are still trying to get healthy.  Wide Receiver Danny Amendola is still nursing a bad knee along with defensive linebacker Dont’a Hightower. However, one of the most important pieces to the Patriots offense could be healthy enough to give it a go in Miami.

With talk about why he shouldn’t play and how he should rest, Julian Edelman needs to come back in Week 17 against the Dolphins.

Edelman broke a bone in his left foot in Week 11 against the Buffalo Bills, since then he has been sidelined and lately has been seen in practice.  With so many injuries, the case has been made to rest Julian Edelman and keep him fresh for the playoffs.

However, throwing him into the playoffs with no game action in over a month is not an ideal situation for any player, especially because Edelman must rekindle his timing with quarterback Tom Brady.

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The 29-year-old out of Kent State has 61 receptions for 692 yards and seven touchdowns this season.  With him out, the Patriots offense has battled more injuries, and Tom Brady has had to deal with a skeleton crew.  With home field advantage up for grabs, it’s important the Patriots win on Sunday and lock that up while the Denver Broncos loom in the distance to try to snatch it away.

Edelman’s presence would only open the field up for tight end Rob Gronkowski, who was dealing with his own knee issue only a few weeks ago.

With Dion Lewis and LaGarrette Blount both out for the season, it’s important Edelman tries to get some snaps in to help this offense in any way he can.

There’s no doubt he would be limited, but simply his presence on the field would give the offense the jolt it’s been missing since he went out.  When the Patriots visited the Dallas Cowboys, Edelman caught four passes for 120 yards and a touchdown.

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His most quiet game came against the Indianapolis Colts, when he caught six balls for 50 total yards, but still managed a touchdown.

If Julian Edelman is ready to go, the New England Patriots must put him into the lineup and let Tom Brady go to work.