The Patriots will have a few more bodies in practice at wide receiver in the next few days.
Aaron Dobson returned to practice on Thursday after missing Tuesday’s session and Julian Edelman has been cleared to practice for the first time in camp. Edelman was placed on the physically unable to perform list after having surgery on the foot injury that ended his 2012 season. That kept him from doing much this offseason, something coach Bill Belichick said won’t help him in the battle for playing time.
“He wasn’t able to do much [in the offseason] and he hasn’t done anything in camp, other than work individually with the trainers and stuff. He watches and goes to meetings, but he can’t participate in anything,” Belichick said, via Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com. “I certainly don’t think it puts him ahead. He has some ground to make up. We’ll see how it goes.”
On some teams, Edelman’s experience might give him an edge in such an inexperienced receiving corps but Patriots history says that sentimentality won’t be a factor when it comes to doling out snaps. If he can’t make up for lost time, Edelman’s playing time and/or job could be at risk.