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New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman is facing a four-game suspension for violating the NFL's performance-enhancing substances policy, multiple media outlets reported on Thursday. Edelman is appealing the suspension, per ESPN's Adam Schefter and Field Yates.
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Should Edelman's suspension stand, he'll miss the Patriots' season opener against the Houston Texans (Sept. 9), road games versus the Jacksonville Jaguars (Sept. 16) and Detroit Lions (Sept. 23), as well as a home tilt against the Miami Dolphins (Sept. 30).
Edelman has been a favorite target of quarterback Tom Brady when healthy over the last several seasons. He caught 98 passes for a career-high 1,106 yards in 2016 before sustaining a torn ACL in a preseason game on Aug. 25.
The 32-year-old Edelman spoke about his recovery on Tuesday during the first day of the Patriots' mandatory minicamp.
"I mean, it's been good. Anytime you get to go out and see the fellas and play with them and talk with them and be in the huddle and look at guys and participate in drills -- I mean, that's what you play the game for, ultimately," he said. "It was tough to watch it all on the sideline last year and to come out here and just to do little things, strap on the helmet, puts in perspective how lucky you are to get to play the game."
Edelman has recorded 425 receptions for 4,540 yards and 24 touchdowns in 103 career games since being selected in the seventh round by the Patriots in the 2009 NFL Draft.
The Patriots saw fellow slot receiver Danny Amendola sign a two-year, $12 million contract with the Dolphins in March while wideout Brandin Cooks was traded to the Los Angeles Rams.
New England added Jordan Matthews and Cordarrelle Patterson this offseason and selected Braxton Berrios in the sixth round of the 2018 NFL Draft to join a depth chart that includes Chris Hogan, Phillip Dorsett, Malcolm Mitchell and Kenny Britt.
