Patriots release Julian Edelman with failed-physical designation

Julian Edelman’s run with the New England Patriots has reached its end after 12 seasons.

The New England Patriots released the veteran wide receiver with the failed-physical designation on Monday, according to the NFL transaction wire.

Edelman, 34, has since announced his retirement from football.

Edelman had been limited to six games in 2020 and finished the year on injured reserve after undergoing an October knee procedure. He caught 21 passes for 315 yards, with a career-high 179 yards arriving versus the Seattle Seahawks.

The converted quarterback by way of the College of San Mateo and Kent State appeared in 157 games between his regular seasons and postseasons with New England after landing in the seventh round of the 2009 NFL draft. Over that span, Edelman posted a pair of 100-catch campaigns and a trio of 1,000-yard campaigns. He accounted for 48 combined touchdowns from Septembers into Februaries, including two as a passer and four as a punt returner.

A three-time Super Bowl champion and Super Bowl LIII MVP, Edelman stands as a member of the franchise’s All-Decade team. His 118 receptions for 1,442 yards in the playoffs stand second on the league’s all-time list behind Hall of Famer Jerry Rice’s 151 receptions for 2,245 yards.

One year remained on Edelman’s Patriots contract after agreeing to an extension in the spring of 2019. He was scheduled to carry a $2.8 million base salary and a cap number north of $6.1 million.

Last week, a source familiar with the situation told Karen Guregian of the Boston Herald that the likelihood of Edelman being able to play the entirety of 2021 was doubtful due to chronic knee issues.

New England’s wideout depth chart continues into April with Nelson Agholor, Kendrick Bourne, Jakobi Meyers, N’Keal Harry, Gunner Olszewski, Kristian Wilkerson, Isaiah Zuber and Devin Smith.