Raj Mehta / USA Today Sports

Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman was carted off the field last night against the Lions with a non-contact injury. The team believed it was an ACL tear, and after his MRI today in Boston, the worst-case scenario has come to pass: Edelman is out for the entire season with a full ACL tear.

Fears confirmed via MRI, Patriots WR Julian Edelman has a complete ACL tear in his right knee, per source.

— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) August 26, 2017

Edelman caught 98 passes for 1,106 yards last year as Tom Brady's top target. And while the team has other slot receivers who will have to step up in Edelman's absence, the former seventh-round pick was an integral cog in the Patriots' attack. With him gone, receiver Danny Amendola will likely become the primary slot target, with Chris Hogan and Brandin Cooks continuing to work the outside.

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