Tyquan Thornton hasn’t had the kind of success wearing No. 11 that Julian Edelman had during his time in Foxborough.
The New England Patriots wide receiver was given Edelman’s former number ahead of the 2022 NFL season, but has struggled to stay healthy.
It’s something that hasn’t gone unnoticed by Edelman.
“If we’re gonna give the sticks out, can we stay on the field?” Edelman said during his appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show” on Tuesday. “Can we not have a hamstring (injury)? … We used to have to do all these god damn hydration tests because of (expletive) soft tissue. Just drink some water. It’s clearly a sore subject.”
Thornton, drafted in the second round by the Patriots in the 2022 NFL Draft, has been limited due to injuries in his first two season. A collarbone ailment in the preseason prior to his rookie year landed him on inured reserve to begin 2022 and limited him to 13 games (nine starts).
The wideout also began 2023 on IR due to a shoulder injury.
Edelman’s comments, however, are likely more reflective on his feelings about No. 11 being recycled rather than Thornton himself. Drew Bledsoe, who also wore No. 11 during his time in New England, admitted he was “a little (expletive) pissed” the Patriots gave Edelman the number on a recent episode of the “Games With Names” podcast.
“They’re just recycling that thing,” Edelman replied.
It’s unclear what role Thornton will play for the Patriots in 2024. After selecting wide receivers in this year’s draft and signing K.J. Osborn, the wideout room is a bit crowded.
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