New England Patriots: Can Edelman Make an Impact?
New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman will take the field for the first time Saturday since being injured against the New York Giants in Week 10.
Edelman was sidelined with a broken bone in his foot, the same bone that both Dez Bryant and Kevin Durant both broke and needed multiple surgeries to get it right. The New England Patriots are hoping his surgery holds up, and that Julian Edelman shakes the rust off quickly in their matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Edelman could have come back Week 17 against the Miami Dolphins, but it’s understandable why he was held out given that the New England Patriots had already secured a playoff spot and a first-round bye.
Dez Bryant came back earlier in the season for the Dallas Cowboys and looked far from his pre-injured self. Although he improved with each game, Julian Edelman does not have that luxury.
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Foot injuries are always tricky and can limit a player’s explosiveness and speed, but Edelman has been practicing and has looked excellent.
Julian Edelman stated in a recent interview with CBS Sports that:
"“There’s no dipping the toe in here, it’s just diving in.”"
While it’s something the New England Patriots and their fans love to hear, it’s likely head coach Bill Belichick will be cautious with the number of snaps Edelman gets. It’s not as if the Kansas City Chiefs don’t have a hard-hitting defense, their secondary can do a number on Edelman if he’s just a step slow and the last thing anyone in New England wants is to see #11 on a cart headed toward the locker room.
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If all goes well, Edelman should be in full form by the fourth quarter and having him running around will allow quarterback Tom Brady to get rid of the football faster.
Personally, I believe Julian Edelman will have a very positive impact on this game. His presence on the field alone is a confidence builder, and while I don’t see him being targeted too much, he will have one or two huge plays.
He’ll stay in the slot and do his work from there, but having Julian Edelman back on the field will open up lanes for other receivers such as Brandon LaFell and Danny Amendola.
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Not only will his impact be from catching footballs, but by stepping out onto the field and firing up Foxboro.