Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Graham
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The New York Jets have caught a break before their grudge match with the New England Patriots at the Meadowlands.
Wes Welker, the NFL's leading receiver over the past two seasons, will not play for the Patriots because of a knee injury. Welker hasn't missed a game since his rookie season in 2004, when he played one game for the San Diego Chargers and 14 for the Miami Dolphins.
Welker's absence opens the door for rookie receiver Julian Edelman to step up on the big stage. Edelman, a converted quarterback drafted in the seventh-round out of Kent State, will make his NFL debut. He became a fan favorite in the preseason for looking like a Welker knockoff -- a gritty slot receiver and punt returner.
Also of note on the inactive list is the Jets' designation of Kevin O'Connell as their third quarterback ahead of Erik Ainge. The Patriots waived O'Connell at the end of training camp. The Detroit Lions picked him up and traded him to the Jets, who had said he would be the fourth quarterback.
Here are all of the inactives:
New England Patriots
- Receiver Wes Welker
- Receiver Matthew Slater
- Tight end Michael Matthews
- Guard Kendall Simmons
- Offensive lineman Rich Ohrnberger
- Offensive lineman Dan Connolly
- Linebacker Jerod Mayo
- Cornerback Terrence Wheatley
- Quarterback Kevin O'Connell (third QB)
- Quarterback Erik Ainge
- Tight end Matthew Mulligan
- Offensive lineman Matt Slauson
- Defensive end Mike Devito
- Defensive lineman Ropati Pitoitua
- Defensive lineman Howard Green
- Linebacker Ryan Fowler
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ABOUT THIS BLOG
Tim Graham
Graham joined ESPN.com in 2008 after covering the Miami Dolphins for the Palm Beach Post. He previously spent eight years at the Buffalo News, where he was an award-winning NHL and boxing writer. The Baldwin-Wallace College grad also has worked for the Las Vegas Sun and Boston Herald.