Edelman Out, Where Does this Leave Pats Receivers?

According to multiple reports, Patriots rookie wide receiver Julian Edelman will be out for some time after he broke his arm Sunday against the Tennessee Titans.

Edelman, a seventh round pick out of Kent State, had 21 catches for 188 yards in five games this season.

Edelman’s injury and Joey Galloway’s release leaves the Patriots with just three options at wide receiver (four if you count Matthew Slater), Randy Moss, Wes Welker, and Sam Aiken.

Clearly, the Patriots need to address the position.

One option for the Patriots would be to bring in outside help.  Some options for the Patriots include Robert Ferguson, Marvin Harrison, Darrell Jackson, Ashley Lelie, Jerry Porter, and Reggie Williams.

However, I think the most realistic option for the Patriots at this point is to look internally for help.  There are really only two options for the Patriots if they go that route, and they are rookie wide receivers Terrence Nunn and Brandon Tate.

Tate was selected in the third round out of North Carolina by the Patriots this past April’s draft.  Tate was having a great senior year at UNC, until tearing both his ACL and MCL.  He is a big playmaker as a receiver, and is an even bigger playmaker as a kick returner.  Tate, still rehabilitating from his knee injury, was placed on the reserve/non-football injury list by the Patriots at the start of training camp, which meant he couldn’t even begin practicing until after week six.  Well, six weeks into the season, he began practicing on Tuesday.  I don’t think Tate will be ready as a receiver for this Sunday’s game, but he could certainly make an impact as a return man.  However, down the road, he could turn into a solid #3 for the Patriots (hopefully by the end of this season).

Terrence Nunn was an undrafted free agent out of Nebraska in 2008, who didn’t get any looks by the NFL despite being the Cornhusker’s second all-time leading receiver.  The Patriots signed Nunn this summer, and he really exploded onto the scene during training camp.  However, he was still cut, and eventually landed himself on the Pats’ practice squad.  Nunn has decent speed, and has the knack for pulling down the awesome grabs.  He could probably come in and contribute right away as the fourth receiver if the Patriots activated him off the practice squad.