NFL

Pats' Edelman carted off early with knee injury

DETROIT — New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman left Friday night’s game against the Lions on the first drive with a knee injury.

He is questionable to return.

The injury occurred less than two minutes into the game. Edelman was running an in-breaking route, beat linebacker Jarrad Davis and caught the ball at Detroit’s 29-yard line. Edelman then turned up the field and planted his right foot into the turf at the 17 to avoid safety Tavon Wilson and lunged forward. He immediately reached to the back of his right knee.

Julian Edelman left Friday night’s game against the Lions on the first drive with a knee injury. Raj Mehta/USA TODAY Sports

After a few minutes of being looked at in a makeshift tent, Edelman was taken by cart to the locker room.

Edelman had three catches for 52 yards before the injury. The Patriots used Brandin Cooks, Chris Hogan and Danny Amendola with Edelman out of the game.

Any loss of Edelman would be significant for New England.

He has 436 receptions (including playoffs) since 2013 — the season after Wes Welker left for the Denver Broncos. That’s 187 more than any other Patriots player in that span (Rob Gronkowski, 249).

ESPN’s Mike Reiss contributed to this report.