Bill Belichick Reveals Julian Edelman Status For Final Game of The Season

NFL experts made a prediction on veteran wideout Julian Edelman and his status for the final game of the regular season. The veteran missed too much time on the field. Head coach Bill Belichick made a decision and he has the final word.

Coach Belichick confirmed that the Patriots won’t activate Edelman off injured reserve ahead of their game against the New York Jets.

“He’s not going to play this year,” the head coach said. Belichick also explained that the veteran wideout did not suffer any at practice in December. “I wouldn’t say that, no. I would just say he wasn’t ready to play and won’t be ready to play.”

Julian Edelman will miss the final game

New England placed Edelman on injured reserve in October. He had a surgery to fix the injury that bugged him throughout the first couple of months of the season. The Super Bowl MVP didn’t miss any games before his surgery. However, his production saw a significant drop  and Edelman had limited playing time. He played 265 of 389 offensive snaps in six games. Damiere Byrd and N’Keal Harry were on the football field for 92.5 and 71.2 percent of snaps.

This doesn’t change the fact that Edelman had a key role in the offense earlier in 2020. By the time he ended on IR, he was leading the Patriots with 21 receptions on 35 targets for 315 yards.

The wideout returned to the practice field in mid-December but the Patriots didn’t add him to the active roster. Edelman didn’t join his teammates for the practice leading up to Monday’s game against the Buffalo Bills. It was more than obvious that Edelman would spend the rest of the season on injured reserve.

“He was around regularly,” Belichick said of Edelman’s efforts and achievements. “He did a good job of using his experience to help other guys in areas that he was familiar with and could give them benefit from his experience and some guidance.”

What will happen in 2021? Will Edelman return to the field next season?

“I think it’s way too early to start talking about next year,” Belichick said.

Edelman is under contract for the 2021 season. He will turn 35 in May and the Patriots have to create the perfect scenario for the wideout.