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FOXBOROUGH – Normally, Julian Edelman, Josh Gordon, and Demaryius Thomas would only be costly cheerleaders in the fourth pre-season game.
But Thursday night, at Gillette Stadium, when Jarrett Stidham took the first picture of the match, he had Edelman and Gordon on the pitch starting with him. At the next moment, Thomas entered for a three-receiver set.
"It was really good, obviously [Thomas] is a phenomenal player who has been around for a very long time. It was nice to have some jets in him and Josh [Gordon], guys who have been in the league for a long time. They are great players for a reason, "said Stidham after the Patriots' 31- 29 loss to the Giants in the final game of the game.
The three receiving veterans were present – Edelman for less than one series, Gordon and Thomas for many – because they had not played in a preseason game. All three joined the Patriots' active lineup last week.
Edelman had been thumb-injured during most of the training camp and pre-season, and had been removed from the non-football injury list. Thomas was on the list of people physically unable to play, still recovering from an Achilles tear suffered last December and was activated the day after Edelman. Gordon joined the team after his suspension was lifted by the NFL, but he was banned from playing in the third preseason game as one of the conditions for his reinstatement.
Thus, three players who would not normally sniff this game have finally found work.
Edelman did not reach the end of the first offensive series. He fell on his hand dipping for a third and second place hold and, although he gained 20 yards and a first run, then moved away, flexing his hand and looking at his thumb. Edelman met with coach Jim Whalen, then sat on the bench without much need for medical care.
Gordon played in the second quarter. He got his first shot early in the game, catching a ball on the sideline, hitting a defender and climbing a few yards for a win of 19. He finished with two catches on six targets for 30 yards and was sent off. A penalty.
"I really thought he was doing very good things. Josh is obviously very talented, "said Stidham.
Thomas had a great night. At 31 years old and after suffering a major injury, it's fair to wonder how much he has left physically. It's hard to get an answer to this question in a pre-season game in which Thomas was playing against second and third string defensive backs, but his performance was good.
Thomas played most of the first half and finished with seven catches on eight targets for 87 yards and two touchdowns. The first was a superb Stidham ball in the back of the shoulder that had traveled 35 yards, the second was a 3-yard shot where Stidham had thrown forward, rolling to the left.
"We will watch the movie and see how it looks," coach Bill Belichick told Thomas or anyone else.
Thomas had not won with a pure explosion, but he looked smooth and well-informed to find open spaces and make takes. He said it was a comfort to take the field and spend some time in the end zone, for the first time in a match since his injury.
"To get the rhythm of the match, get calls, queue, see different covers, guys different from the ones I see at workout, I think that's a good start and I can continue this momentum, "said Thomas.
Thomas, a TB12 sports therapy center client, said he felt healthy and was playing a little stronger and stronger than he was last year before his injury.
He said he did not feel obligated on the ground. He did not look the same, either.
"It's been a long time since I was in the end zone and I had to score on the Patriots' jersey, it was a big win for me," said Thomas.
More pictures of the game
You can contact Nora Princiotti at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter at @NoraPrinciotti.
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