"Given the way Julian Edelman departed Sun Life Stadium on Sunday — being whisked away from a door that would have fed him out to awaiting reporters, but not before he was spotted with crutches and a walking boot — one had to figure the situation wasn't good.

Yesterday, that feeling was confirmed. The Patriots [team stats] wide receiver/punt returner was placed on season-ending injured reserve. Edelman, who had emerged in recent weeks as a bigger contributor to the offense, suffered a broken foot.

While his insertion over Wes Welker in two-receiver sets the first two games of the season led to some controversy, there wasn't as much outcry over his added playing time meaning a reduced role for Brandon Lloyd the past few weeks.