Brady hit hard by Edelman injury: 'That was a tough night for me'
Over the past four seasons, Tom Brady has looked to Julian Edelman more than any other receiver.
For the 2017 campaign, however, Brady will have to find a new go-to guy after the pass-catcher suffered a season-ending knee injury during Friday's preseason game - a loss that had Brady reeling.
"It's a challenging part of the job, it really is," Brady said Monday on "Kirk & Callahan," according to Zack Cox of WEEI.com. "In my 18th year, it certainly isn't that easy. I don't think you should take those things well. You hate to see guys get injured. You hate to see guys that you've had so much experience with get injured. I think just because there is so much dependability and trust. You've been through these things. You know what you can count on. I think it was pretty tough. That was a tough night for me the other night, and it still is."
The New England Patriots quarterback is used to playing without one of his top offensive weapons. Star tight end Rob Gronkowski missed the last two months of the 2016 season, but the Patriots and Brady were able to persevere and win their fifth Super Bowl title.
The 40-year-old quarterback is expecting the same resilience from his team with the Edelman blow.
"We're going to be tested this year," Brady said. "We're going to be tested early. I am sure (Edelman) is not going to be the only one that gets injured over the course of the year. Every team has injuries so they are dealing with the same thing. No one is going to feel sorry for us. We have to understand this is where we're at and this is how we have to get the job done and work as hard as we can at it."
Brady will likely rely more on newcomer Brandin Cooks, as well veterans Chris Hogan and Danny Amendola. But Brady - who suffered his own ACL tear in 2008 - has no doubt his favorite target will bounce back from the injury.
"It's a tough injury being through it," Brady said. "It happened to me going into my ninth year, and it happened to him going into his ninth year. I haven't had any problems. Obviously, it is a different position, but he'll overcome it."