FOXBORO, Mass. — After another quiet day for Julian Edelman, Cam Newton acknowledged his connection with the New England Patriots’ most accomplished pass-catcher is not where it needs to be.
“Our Wi-Fi is definitely off,” the New England Patriots quarterback said after being benched in the fourth quarter of his team’s 33-6 loss to the San Francisco 49ers at Gillette Stadium.
“And it’s frustrating because knowing the person Julian is and knowing the body of work that he puts in each and every week and day and from preparation to biometrically with his body, you fall in love with a person like that. And with me, I just want to win. I just want to find a way to win. And here of late, that hasn’t been the case.”
Newton threw in Edelman’s direction just once against the Niners, and the pass was well behind the veteran receiver. It tipped off Edelman’s hands and straight to cornerback Jamar Taylor for an interception — one of three Newton threw in the loss.
Edelman received two targets from backup QB Jarrett Stidham, and one of those was intercepted, as well. He finished with one catch for 13 yards.
Since Newton returned from his one-game COVID-related absence, Edelman has three catches on nine targets for 21 yards. He has more passing yards (38) during that same span.
This isn’t a new development, either. Since tallying a career-high 179 receiving yards in a Week 2 loss in Seattle, Edelman has provided only modest offensive production, catching eight passes on 21 targets for 79 yards and no touchdowns over four games (three with Newton).
“We’ve got to figure it out,” Newton said. “We’ve got to figure it out.”
Edelman also has been the Patriots’ third receiver in terms of playing time this season, trailing Damiere Byrd and N’Keal Harry in snaps as he continues to nurse a nagging knee injury.
When Harry left Sunday’s game with a concussion, Jakobi Meyers, not Edelman, took over the bulk of his snaps.
