Details Emerge On Julian Edelman’s Head Injury During Game Vs. Bills

Wide receiver Julian Edelman missed a quarter of action Saturday in the Patriots’ 24-17 win over the Buffalo Bills. The wideout was flagged for pass interference in the third quarter when he trucked safety Jordan Poyer n a completion to tight end Ben Watson. This was probably unintentional, and Edelman tried to play it off that way. What about the head injury?

“Those are tough plays,” Edelman said. “It’s a bang-bang play. It’s a slant-flat. They were in man coverage, and you’re trying to set up your guy, and all of a sudden you come off and you break off of it and you’ve got that guy right up in your face. And you try to protect yourself, and then I saw three flags. Those are tough plays.”
Edelman was motionless on the field, and then he noticed the flag.

“I was trying to sell it,” Edelman said. “Maybe they didn’t see it. Then three flags were literally in my face. That sell didn’t work and it got me taken out for a quarter.”

The wideout initially stayed in the game, but after New England kicked a 51-yard field goal, he went into New England’s blue pop-up medical tent. Edelman went to the locker room, and he was evaluated for a head injury.

The wideout returned to action in the fourth quarter and caught a 30-yard pass from quarterback Tom Brady. After running back Rex Burkhead had a rushing touchdown, the wideout made a two-point conversion attempt on another throw from TB12.

“Old Lazarus (of Bethany), you mean?” wide receiver Matthew Slater said after the game. “My dad texted me after the game and said, “Tell Lazarus, good job.” Old Lazarus came back from the dead. For those of you who don’t know the story of Lazarus, but he came back. It’s kind of funny the way he laid out there for dead, but I’m glad he’s OK. And he came back and gave us a big boost with his play immediately coming into the game, making a big catch. His toughness, his energy, I’m glad he’s OK like I said. Huge impact from him.”

“I’m honestly sick of it,” Edelman said. “Because guys come up to me, and they’re like, ‘ahh, dude, reporters are asking me about your toughness, yada yada.’ Please, just stop asking me.”