Actually, I think that's a good idea. Those reports aren't coming from the Patriots, Edelman, or his doctors because none of those people are going to talk about it with the press until he's on the field. I think they represent an echo chamber based on observations of him jogging and playing catch, and are driven by social media posts about fantasy football selections.
Even if for some reason protocol had been broken, and those reports were from a source with real knowledge, "progressing very well" at this point means that the swelling has gone down, his post-op pain is where it should be, there's no infection, and he's able to put straight-ahead pressure on it. It doesn't give an indication of how well the screw is adhering to bone and how strongly the bone is healing. Those things are discovered at the very end.
Look, I want him on the field and perfect for this playoff run as much as the next guy. Maybe he has healed and is ready to go. Fantastic! On the other hand, some athletes take three or four months for this injury/surgery, and it is very individualized. I don't want us to have a collective delusion out of hope. And I don't want him to ruin next year by pushing himself too early this year.
