What if Edelman doesn't play?

[cstjohn17]

shudder... There is a lot of hope and expectations riding on his foot. Mentally this would be a big blow.

 

[Sicilian]

Big blow for sure, though I think we can beat Cincy or Houston without Edelman. More worried about Kansas City in that scenario.

But I also fully expect Edelman to play. He'll be approaching 9 weeks since the injury by the time that game rolls around, and he's been practicing for a while now.

 

[nabwong]

There's no doubt Edelman will play. The only question is can he last the whole game and how rusty he is. Even Gronk and Brady took a few games after injury to peak. For a player that relies on extremely quick change of direction, I think the rust will show.

 

[IllegalContact]

edelman was out 4 weeks prior to the ravens game last playoffs...he did ok

 

[Family]

He'll play.

The question is "what if Edelman can't get open fast enough?"

 

[Deus Irae]

shudder... There is a lot of hope and expectations riding on his foot. Mentally this would be a big blow.

He'll play.

The question is "what if Edelman can't get open fast enough?"

Hope Amendola's healthy.

 

[RobertWeathers]

There's no doubt Edelman will play. The only question is can he last the whole game and how rusty he is. Even Gronk and Brady took a few games after injury to peak. For a player that relies on extremely quick change of direction, I think the rust will show.

Ive been doing some thinking about this and as you highlight JE will play, but will:

A) be a bit rusty and
B) not play the standard 60+ snaps his 1st game back since mid-Nov.

By playing the offense will stand to gain some uptick in production but IMO what this team needs is an emotional boost. All the injuries. A few crappy losses here and there. Basically going on self-preservation/protection/auto-pilot mode since Thanksgiving.

This team has been playing without a true purpose for a month and a half.

I don't want to overstate it too much but Jules, his energy and what he means to Tom and his comfort level running the offense and the team emotionally is badly needed.

 

[upstater1]

It sucks to say this but Vollmer is just as important. The offense does nothing if people are running free on Brady, and the thing with Vollmer's injury is that Seabass struggled with speed rushers outside as it was.

 

[Kontradiction]

If he doesn't play then it's on to 2016 because this offense thoroughly blows without him.

 

[TinhWoodhead]

Some were saying he could play in the jetz game

 

[BelichickFan]

We're done but I don't think anyone seriously thinks he won't. He's been at practice for a few weeks and has had two weeks longer than Dez gave his foot injury.

And this :

Mike Loyko ‏@NEPD_Loyko Jan 3
From spies in Foxboro: Julian Edelman was seen running, cutting, and stopping at full speed on the Practice field this weekend.

 

[fumbrunner]

I'm more concerned about the Offensive Line.

 

[oldrover]

What if Edelman doesn't play?

Oh, wait, sorry... I was channeling my gameday thread persona... what was the question?

 

[RobertWeathers]

Some were saying he could play in the jetz game

Take it FWIW but a buddy of mine who is more right than wrong said that JE lobbied the coaching staff HARD to play in MIA and he packed his stuff BEFORE his workout and put it in the area for the ops people to take to the airport. BB went to JE and was basically WTF and JE told him he- BB is screwing up by not playing him in MIA as he needs to get his timing back and BB got a little agitated with him and walked away.

Its a good story. I can see Jules doing that.

 

[RobertWeathers]

We're done but I don't think anyone seriously thinks he won't. He's been at practice for a few weeks and has had two weeks longer than Dez gave his foot injury.

And this :

Mike Loyko ‏@NEPD_Loyko Jan 3
From spies in Foxboro: Julian Edelman was seen running, cutting, and stopping at full speed on the Practice field this weekend.

By the time next Saturday rolls around he would have had almost 9 full weeks to heal.

 

[Mack Herron]

There is little chance Edelman does not play. In fact I have little doubt that all the key guys will play. The concern with Edelman is refracture--the bones are not yet healed and at some point and if they cannot take the rigor of game action, he could limp off the field. If we see this, he is done. Similarly, players like Hightower, McCourty, Chandler Jones, Amendola, Scott Chandler, and LaFell all will play, but they are all injured and the last time we saw them on the field they did not play well. My question is not whether or not they play, it is how well can they play?

 

[PatsFan2]

shudder... There is a lot of hope and expectations riding on his foot. Mentally this would be a big blow.

We Lose Book it...have you seen the Offense since he left even against $h!t Teams?

 

[Rob0729]

Zolak said the other day that his sources said that Edelman was cleared to play for the Jets game, but they decided to hold him out to make sure that he is as close to 100% by the playoffs. So Edelman could have played the last two games of the season if they absolutely needed him.

Now I am usually the one who says that if you are cleared to play, you should play. But in this case where there is a 20% chance of him needing surgery again if rushing back too quick (Heard Dr. Chao say that on Sirius NFL radio), I am glad they held Edelman out.

 

[Deus Irae]

There is little chance Edelman does not play. In fact I have little doubt that all the key guys will play. The concern with Edelman is refracture--the bones are not yet healed and at some point and if they cannot take the rigor of game action, he could limp off the field. If we see this, he is done. Similarly, players like Hightower, McCourty, Chandler Jones, Amendola, Scott Chandler, and LaFell all will play, but they are all injured and the last time we saw them on the field they did not play well. My question is not whether or not they play, it is how well can they play?

Edelman's playing unless the bone is still/re broken.

There's probably nobody who was on the Miami game inactive list who won't be in a position to play, if the Patriots want them active.

 

[PatsFan2]

Zolak said the other day that his sources said that Edelman was cleared to play for the Jets game, but they decided to hold him out to make sure that he is as close to 100% by the playoffs. So Edelman could have played the last two games of the season if they absolutely needed him.

Now I am usually the one who says that if you are cleared to play, you should play. But in this case where there is a 20% chance of him needing surgery again if rushing back too quick (Heard Dr. Chao say that on Sirius NFL radio), I am glad they held Edelman out.

Good and in all honesty based on the timeline we did not rush him back. Put me with the ones who feel with a healty Edelman - Gronk and Amendola the Patriots can beat anybody anywhere.