The New England Patriots are dealing with injuries in an area they simply cannot afford to. With Tom Brady out for four games at the moment, Jimmy Garoppolo will need all of the help he can get in order to be successful at the start of the year. The team's wide receivers will be critical in that effort as injuries hit the position group hard. Reggie Wayne joins as one of the lone healthy bodies while doubt remains over Julian Edelman.
Edelman has been sitting out since suffering an ankle injury at the start of training camp. The team's No.1 receiver has certainly been missed while injuries stack up on the players around him. Edelman is supposed to be critical to the team's offense and for the development of Garoppolo and now he is in doubt to be cleared for Week 1 of the season.
"Ask Bill [Belichick]. I'm taking it day by day and I think I'm 10 seconds better than the last 10 seconds, so we're good," Edelman said, via ESPN.com. "Any time you're not able to go out there and play it's difficult, but it's part of the game. I'm just working hard, doing everything I can each and every day to improve myself each and every day."
The injury to Edelman is paired with the season-ending knee injury Brandon Gibson suffered. The Boston Herald's Jeff Howe reported that the receiver tore his ACL and will miss the year. He was signed in the offseason after being released from the Miami Dolphins. Brandon LaFell has been nursing a foot injury while Aaron Dobson has a hamstring issue. These injuries have put a huge strain on the offense and made the signing of Wayne more significant. Wayne told the media he will simply do whatever it takes to help the team win.
"I want to win, point-blank," Wayne said, via ESPN.com. "The only thing I can do is let my work speak for itself. I know what I can do. I know what I can bring to the table. I just have to get caught up and get on the same page with everybody, and I'll be able to show what I can do. Whoever those naysayers are, just watch me work."
If Edelman is out for Week 1, the Patriots will be missing the receiver, Brady and LeGarrette Bount which leaves the offense in flux. So far in the preseason, James White and Jonas Gray have been leading the rushing charge. Rob Gronkowski will continue to be a key threat while Amendola and Wayne could help with the receiving game.