The New England Patriots were dealt a severe blow to their passing game recently with veteran wide receiver Julian Edelman being slapped with a four-game suspension for testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs. Edelman immediately appealed the suspension and is now going through the process of trying to get it reversed.

According to Tom Pelissero of NFL.com, Edelman's appeals hearing lasted for quite some time and now there's no set timetable for a ruling.

With the team trading Brandin Cooks to the Los Angeles Rams earlier in the NFL offseason and also letting Danny Amendola sign with the division rival Miami Dolphins in free agency, the Patriots aren't exactly stacked at the wide receiver position moving forward. Superstar tight end Rob Gronkowski will return for another season securing Tom Brady's favorite target in the passing game, but losing Edelman for the first four games will be costly.

Although Edelman's absence will take a toll on the team to start the 2018 campaign, New England has a knack for figuring things out with the players they have. Brady seems to get everything to work regardless of his personnel, but obviously, having Edelman in the fold is an ideal situation for the reigning AFC champions.

Last season, Edelman failed to play a single game for New England due to a torn ACL he suffered in his right knee. The year previous he had a solid campaign for the Patriots playing in 16 games for only the second time in his NFL career. The Kent State product finished with 98 receptions for 1,106 yards and three touchdowns.