Patriots Activate WR Julian Edelman, Release RB Kenjon Barner

The New England Patriots officially activated WR Julian Edelman from the exempt list on Thursday and released RB Kenjon Barner.

Edelman, 32, is a former seventh-round pick of the Patriots back in 2009. He was in the final year of his four-year, $17 million contract when the Patriots signed him to a two-year extension worth $11 million and included $9 million guaranteed last year.

Edelman stands to make base salaries of $2 million over the next two years of the agreement.

In 2016, Edelman appeared in all 16 games for the Patriots and caught 98 passes for 1,106 yards receiving and three touchdowns. He also added 57 rushing yards, 44 kick return yards and 135 punt return yards for New England. Pro Football Focus had him rated as the No. 21 receiver out of 115 qualifying players that season.

Barner, 27, is a former sixth-round pick of the Panthers back in 2013. He spent just over a year in Carolina before he was traded to the Eagles in return for a conditional seventh-round pick that did not meet the qualifications.

Philadelphia didn’t tender him a restricted offer a few years ago and he later signed a one-year contract with the Chargers. Barner later returned to the Eagles a few weeks into the 2017 season.

The Panthers signed him to a contract back in May but cut him loose at the start of the season. Barner has been on and off of the Patriots’ roster this season.

In 2018, Barner has appeared in one game and rushed for 11 yards on three carries and no touchdowns.

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