Patriots' Edelman unable to provide clarity for 2021 plans

Will New England Patriots receiver Julian Edelman hang up his cleats for good? Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports

Patriots WR Julian Edelman unable to provide clarity for 2021 plans

By Erin Walsh | Last updated 1/22/21

New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman missed nearly the entire 2020 campaign after undergoing surgery on his knee in October. Edelman will turn 35 in May, casting doubt on his future in the NFL. For context, wide receivers normally retire in their mid-30s.

During an appearance on Barstool Sports' "Pardon My Take," Edelman said "we're not there yet" when asked to dismiss talk about retirement, per Pro Football Talk.

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— Pardon My Take (@PardonMyTake) January 22, 2021

Edelman has spent his entire career in New England, winning three Super Bowls alongside Tom Brady. In 137 regular-season games, he has 620 catches for 6,822 yards and 36 touchdowns. In 2020, he had 21 catches for 315 yards in six games.

With Edelman sidelined and Brady off to Tampa Bay, the Patriots missed the playoffs for the first time since 2008. If the California native decides to retire, the Patriots will be even more shorthanded in 2021.

Edelman is under contract for one more season and will become a free agent in 2022. Maybe he'll decide to play out the final year of his contract and retire after that, though we'll just have to wait and see.

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