Patriots news: Julian Edelman to miss three weeks due to a thumb injury

New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman is set to miss three weeks and the start of training camp due to a thumb injury.

New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman will not be in attendance for the start of training camp.

The reigning Super Bowl MVP will be sidelined for at least three weeks due to a thumb injury, per Adam Schefter and Field Yates of ESPN.

Edelman is the latest member of the Patriots' offense who will miss the start of training camp. The team had recently put running back Sony Michel and wide receiver Demaryius Thomas on the physically unable to perform list to start camp.

The 33-year-old Edelman missed the entire 2017 season after suffering a torn ACL in preseason. But he returned last season to record 74 catches for 850 receiving yards (a team-high) and six touchdowns in 12 games. He missed the first four games due to suspension for performance-enhancing drugs.

Edelman was also crucial to the Patriots winning a sixth Super Bowl in the Tom Brady-Bill Belichick era. He had 12 catches for 141 yards and was named the game’s MVP.

Edelman is expected to remain Brady’s top receiving target this season, especially with Rob Gronkowski now retired. First-round pick N’Keal Harry, Demaryius Thomas, Dontrelle Inman, Phillip Dorsett, and Josh Gordon if he can get reinstated, are the Patriots’ other options at wide receiver.

While Edelman’s thumb injury is an unfortunate setback, it’s not such a big deal in the large scheme of things. Edelman is a veteran who is already well-versed in the Patriots’ offense. In anything, this layoff will allow him to be a bit fresher ahead of the regular season.