FOXBOROUGH — In the second of three joint practices with the Chicago Bears, New England Patriots receiver Julian Edelman took his first rep in team drills since his August 9 injury scare.
Edelman caught a short pass over the middle from Jimmy Garoppolo, turned it upfield and then absorbed an unexpected hit from Bears defensive back Harold Jones-Quartey; tackling is not allowed during these drills, so naturally the hit ignited what almost became Game 2 in the best-of-seven brawl between the Pats and Bears. Aaron Dobson and Martellus Bennett rushed to Edelman's defense, and Jones-Quartey was removed from the drill.