Julian Edelman’s tenure with the New England Patriots has come to an end, but the situation sounds like a developing one. According to the NFL’s transaction wire on Monday, the Patriots released the 34-year-old and the reason cited was a failed physical.
Edelman has dealt with chronic knee issues for the past few seasons and the transaction might be a precursor of sorts.
Per ESPN’s Mike Reiss, due to the knee issue, Edelman has been considering retirement. The contract termination might just be the first step in Edelman’s career coming to an end:
While Julian Edelman showed up on today's transaction wire as having his contract terminated by the Patriots, Edelman has been mulling retirement and this could just be a precursor to that announcement.
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) April 12, 2021
The news on Edelman’s departure comes only days after a separate report indicated that it was unlikely the wide receiver would be healthy in 2021 and even if he did return to the field, it would not be for a full season. He would need time off.
In 2020, Edelman missed 10 games on injured reserve due to a knee injury. Edelman has spent his entire career with the Patriots, which began in 2009 when he was selected in the seventh round of the NFL Draft.
