Julian Edelman. (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON (WBZ-AM) -- Julian Edelman hasn't played a football game that matters since the Patriots' dramatic Super Bowl win over the Falcons in February 2017. The receiver missed all of last year with a torn ACL, and though he's participated in the preseason, he won't be eligible to play until week 5 this year because of a suspension for using PEDs.
What is he hoping to accomplish in the time away?
"I hope to get my conditioning better, keeping the volume up," Edelman said. "Hope I can go out and contribute in other ways. Obviously I won't be here for the first four. Anything I can do to help with guys that are gonna step in, be able to let them know what they need to know and little things, especially guys that aren't as experienced and other things."
How could he help those guys?
"You know, just looks and verbage," he said. "I've been in the system a little while, so if a guy is having a difficulty with a read or an option or this or that, that's what I'm here for I guess."
With Kenny Britt, Jordan Matthews, and Malcolm Mitchell released, and the Edelman ban, the Pats' depth chart at receiver features Chris Hogan, Phillip Dorsett, Cordarrelle Patterson--a handful of young guys.
The regular season begins September 9 against the Texans.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Adam Kaufman (@AdamMKaufman) reports