Report: Patriots to place wide receiver Julian Edelman on injured reserve

The New England Patriots will be without Julian Edelman for a minimum of three games.

According to a report Saturday from Ian Rapoport of NFL Media, the Patriots are expected to place the 34-year-old wide receiver on injured reserve prior to the evening transaction wire.

Edelman underwent a knee procedure earlier in the week and was ruled out on the final injury report heading into New England’s visit to the Buffalo Bills.

“We’ll see how the return goes,” Patriots head coach Bill Belichick told reporters during his video conference on Friday. “I mean, I don’t think this is a season-ending situation, but we’ll see. I’m not a doctor. We’ll see how it goes here. Hopefully he’ll be back. I know he has worked awfully hard and nobody’s more competitive than Julian is. So, he’ll do everything he can to be back out there and we’ll just take it day by day at the process and we’ll see how it goes.”

Listed as limited and questionable since the start of the regular season, Edelman has been on the field for 68 percent of the offensive snaps. That rate ranks third on the depth chart behind Damiere Byrd and N’Keal Harry, who remains in concussion protocol and will also miss Sunday’s AFC East matchup.

Edelman stands with 21 receptions on 39 targets for 315 yards this fall. He has been held to eight receptions for 79 yards over New England’s past four games, starting one.

The Patriots near Orchard Park with Byrd, Jakobi Meyers and Gunner Olszewski healthy on the active roster. Rookie wideouts Isaiah Zuber, Kristian Wilkerson and Mason Kinsey are the elevation options on the practice squad.

Sunday’s kickoff is set for 1 p.m. ET.