Patriots vs. Bengals Wednesday injury report: Julian Edelman rests, Ted Karras returns for New England

The New England Patriots reconvened for practice without Julian Edelman.

Wednesday marked the 1,000-yard receiver’s first absence of the regular season. Load management was the reasoning behind it, according to The Athletic’s Jeff Howe. A shoulder injury, and previously a chest injury, have left Edelman among New England’s questionable for nine games dating back to September. Edelman is now also dealing with a knee injury.

Starting center Ted Karras and rookie defensive tackle Byron Cowart returned for the Patriots as limited participants.

Here’s the initial injury report for Sunday’s 1 p.m. ET meeting with Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium.

DID NOT PARTICIPATE

• Patriots: WR Julian Edelman (knee/shoulder)
• Bengals: WR A.J. Green (ankle), DT Geno Atkins (rest), CB Darqueze Dennard (rest)

Edelman logged eight catches for 95 yards and his seventh total touchdown of the year in Sunday’s loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. He played 65 of New England’s 66 offensive snaps, and would be New England’s lone non-participant as on-field preparations got underway Wednesday. Edelman’s 90 receptions this campaign rank third-most in the NFL.

Three Bengals did not practice to open the week. Two defensive starters received rest days, while a seven-time Pro Bowl target in Green has yet to appear in a game for Cincinnati this season.

LIMITED PARTICIPATION

• Patriots: WR Mohamed Sanu (ankle), C Ted Karras (knee), DT Byron Cowart (concussion), DT Danny Shelton (shoulder), LB Ja’Whaun Bentley (knee), CB Jason McCourty (groin)
• Bengals: WR John Ross (foot), TE Tyler Eifert (rest), DT Renell Wren (hip), DE Sam Hubbard (knee)

Karras’ ironman streak ended against the Houston Texans in Week 13. Karras, who exited that meeting at NRG Stadium due to a reported MCL sprain, was sidelined all of last week and scratched by the final injury report. Veteran interior lineman James Ferentz filled in as New England’s center for the second half versus Houston and started versus Kansas City. Across the ball, Cowart had been ruled out for both games because of a concussion. Pick No. 159 overall out of Maryland returned Wednesday having last practiced on Nov. 29.

Among Cincinnati’s limited Wednesday would be Ross. The former Washington Huskies wideout was activated from injured reserve earlier this month, and caught two passes for 28 yards last weekend versus the Cleveland Browns.

FULL PARTICIPATION

• Patriots: QB Tom Brady (right elbow), WR N’Keal Harry (hip)
• Bengals: no players listed

Brady noted during his postgame press conference Sunday that his well-wrapped throwing elbow would “probably be on the injury report.” The Patriots quarterback was correct, but as a full participant.

New England’s first-round wideout joined Brady in full Wednesday. Listed with a hip injury, Harry played two offensive snaps against the Chiefs, reaching inside the pylon on the second.