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Patriots Gridiron News: Julian Edelman, Gronkowski & other Week 5 notes

By Tarringo Basile-vaughan

FOXBOROUGH, MA - AUGUST 9 : Julian Edelman #11 of the New England Patriots warms up before the preseason game between the New England Patriots and the Washington Redskins at Gillette Stadium on August 9, 2018 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MA - AUGUST 9 : Julian Edelman #11 of the New England Patriots warms up before the preseason game between the New England Patriots and the Washington Redskins at Gillette Stadium on August 9, 2018 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

The New England Patriots are onto Week 5 in a Thursday night matchup with the Indianapolis Colts.  While one star player is returning, another remains questionable.

The New England Patriots won’t have much time to celebrate a 38-7 victory over the Miami Dolphins. In a quick turn-around week, Bill Belichick and his team have to prepare for Andrew Luck and the Indianapolis Colts in a Thursday night showdown.

One main storyline to watch heading into this one is the return of Julian Edelman.

After missing the first four weeks of the season while servicing a four-game suspension due to use of an illegal substance, Tom Brady’s most reliable target is back.  While Edelman’s presence should spark the offense in a major way, Belichick knows his veteran receiver has to catching up to do.

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In an appearance on WEEI, the Patriots coach talked about No. 11 and how much work he has to put in to catch up physically and mentally as he will need some time to get back into the flow of the offense after being away more than a season.

"“I know the play book and you don’t want me out there,” Belichick said, as transcribed by MassLive.com.  “It’s the timing and the execution of it.  When you’re by yourself as Julian has been, we’ve had other players in this situation before, you can run around the tract and do all the sit-ups you want.  It’s different when you have 21 other guys on the field playing football.  The timing the awareness, is just different.  The space, and the players that are in that space, is something you can only get used to by doing it.”"

In serving the four-game suspension, Julian Edelman not only lost contact with the team for four weeks, but it has obviously delayed his attempt to come back at full strength following an ACL tear.

In a way, the extra time could benefit Edelman and the New England Patriots offense later in the season.  For now, however, the team will have to ease the 32-year-old back into the flow of the game slowly.   That process begins this Thursday night against the Colts.

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