New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman wasn't permitted to train at the team's facility during his four-game suspension, so he sought another way to get his work in while awaiting his return.

According to Adam Schefter and Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.com, Edelman worked out at the new facility for the Boston Celtics during his suspension. Edelman also played ping pong with Celtics star Gordon Hayward, who missed virtually all of 2017-18 after fracturing his leg in the season opener.

"He's a good player," Hayward told ESPN. I haven't played against someone who moved like he did when he played. He was all over the place and low to the ground...We were battling, and by the end we would have an audience watching."

Edelman hasn't played for the Patriots since Feb. 5 of last year, when they defeated the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl 51. He tore his ACL in preseason action and missed the entire 2017 season, and the team's trip to a Super Bowl 52 appearance.

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Edelman was then hit with a four-game suspension for violating the NFL's drug policy. Though Edelman denied the intention of cheating and appealed the suspension, the NFL upheld it. The Patriots offense struggled without their star receiver, and they sit at 2-2 entering Week 5.

A two-time 1,000-yard receiver, Edelman grew into Tom Brady's most reliable receiving target back in 2013. He had the game-winning touchdown in Super Bowl 49 and made a handful of incredibly clutch catches in their aforementioned Super Bowl 51 victory over Atlanta.

With his great speed and route-running abilities, Edelman is one of the toughest guys to cover in the NFL, and he's absolutely key in third down situations as well. With Edelman and Rob Gronkowski on the field together, New England's offense should have no problem reaching its full potential once again.

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