It seems clear the Patriots are treating Julian Edelman like a 34-year-old who has taken the number of hits and dealt with the injuries he has over the course of his career.
Edelman is no longer playing virtually all the snaps in the games and has been limited with a knee injury for every practice session so far this season.
Speaking via video conference Thursday, Cam Newton acknowledged it has made developing chemistry a little harder than it would be otherwise.
“We have our ways, and you’ve still gotta be a pro,” he said. “It’s no different. You call it vet days. You call it smart days. You call it whatever you wanna call it. We understand that Julian Edelman is still a dominant player in this league. As we kinda keep getting to know each other, that’s still a person that I admire from afar. And even up close. For him to have that work ethic and for people to know what to expect from him day in and day out, he’s set that bar extremely high and he lives up to it each and every day from the way he’s gotta take care of his body as well as the way he practices.”
But, the quarterback did add their on-field relationship is good.
“Of course. I would think so, Newton said. “But like at the end of the day we’re still professionals, and yet through it all for our relationship to be what it is, it also helps the Doughboys [N’Keal Harry]. It also helps Damiere [Byrd]. It also helps Jakobi [Meyers]. It also helps Gunner [Olszewski]. Because a lot of times we may not have a day together but when he does come back we do make up for it in many ways than one.”
Through three games, Edelman has 15 receptions for 259 yards.
