The Patriots might be headed to the playoffs for the eighth time in nine seasons, but they’ll participate in the postseason without Julian Edelman.

Edelman, who recently scored four touchdowns in a two-game stretch and is second in the NFL with a 15.5-yard average on punt returns, was placed on injured reserve Tuesday, two days after suffering a foot injury against the Dolphins. The move ends the season for Edelman, who has been with the Patriots for four years and is in the final year of the contract he signed as a rookie.