Injury update: Early signs are encouraging when it comes to Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman

The New England Patriots celebrated another convincing victory on Sunday, when they defeated the visiting New York Jets with a final score of 30-14. Not all was quite as positive as the final score might indicate, however, as the team suffered multiple injuries along the way. Two of them stand out among the others: wide Julian Edelman suffered a chest injury in the second quarter; linebacker Dont’a Hightower hurt his shoulder in the fourth.

While the severity of Hightower’s injury is not known at this point in time, it looks like Edelman and the Patriots may have dodged a bullet when it comes to his chest issue. Early signs are certainly encouraging, after all, as NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported: shortly after Sunday’s game, he pointed out that X-rays on Edelman’s chest were negative; on Monday he added that the reigning Super Bowl MVP “will be good.”

The Patriots’ first practice report of the week — it will be released on Wednesday — will add more context to the situation, but the first reports coming out of Foxborough about the 33-year-old are positive. Edelman not suffering a major injury does of course mean that the team’s number one pass catcher in terms of playing time, receptions and yards will probably be available again sooner rather than later.

With Edelman out, New England turned to Jakobi Meyers to fill the vacant spot in three-receiver sets alongside Josh Gordon and Phillip Dorsett II. The undrafted rookie fared well against the New York Jets, but is obviously a downgrade from the veteran receiver that enjoys quarterback Tom Brady’s trust like few, if any, other players.