It’s not exactly breaking news that New England Patriots receiver Julian Edelman is battling through a list of injuries right now. You can see him grimace almost any time he comes to his feet after taking a hard hit, or a clutching of his chest any time he goes to the ground hard.
But Edelman has not had any interest in addressing those injury-related topics in past weeks. And this week was no different.
“I’m not answering ‘physically’ questions,” Edelman responded from his locker on Thursday after being asked how he was feeling.
It was the final question of his media availability as he walked off with a “Thanks, guys.”
Edelman has been on the injury report almost every day since Week Three when he exited the game against the New York Jets with a chest injury. Since then, he’s added shoulder and knee injuries as well.
Earlier in his availability Edelman was asked about the importance of the team’s medical staff. He declined to answer that one as well.
“I’m not answering questions about medical staff,” Edelman said.
Those in the locker room are well aware the 33-year-old receiver is playing through health-related adversity.
“He’s a pretty tough guy,” quarterback Tom Brady said during his press conference on Thursday. “He wants to be out there competing and playing. I think everyone has a lot of respect for him for that. He’s a tough guy.”
Special teams captain Matthew Slater said Edelman “reeks of toughness” earlier in the week and added he can’t remember playing with anyone more tough than Edelman over the course of his career.
It’s been a consistent message over the last few weeks.
And even with the injuries, he’s still been the most productive member of the Patriots offense. Edelman has 92 catches for 1,019 yards in 14 games. He enters the final two weeks of the season needing 14 catches and 88 yards to set career highs.
Edelman is currently listed as questionable on the injury report ahead of the Patriots hosting the Buffalo Bills on Saturday at Gillette Stadium. But you can count on him being out there, like he has been all year.
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