Report: Julian Edelman was tested for concussion, cleared to return

New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman was tested for a concussion and cleared to finish the Super Bowl after taking a hit to the helmet in the fourth quarter, reports the Associated Press.

Edelman sustained a helmet-to-helmet hit from Seattle Seahawks safety Kam Chancellor on a pass play. Despite the hit, Edelman was able to continue running on the play and remained in the game.

Patriots coach Bill Belichick said earlier on Monday that he did not know if Edelman was checked for a concussion, saying that the decision was up to the medical staff, according to Kent Somers of AZcentral.com.

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According to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, independent medical doctors were on the radio to the sideline twice after the play calling for Edelman to be checked for a concussion.

SI's Best Photos from Super Bowl XLIX

Malcolm Butler intercepts a pass intended for Richardo Lockette to prevent the Seahawks from scoring a would-be winning touchdown in the final minute.

Malcolm Butler's first career interception gave the Patriots their fourth Super Bowl victory in the past 14 years.

Butler's teammates congratulate him for making the game-saving pickoff on a second-and-goal play from the one.

New England coach Bill Belichick gets a Gatorade bath.

The Patriots celebrate their thrilling last-minute victory.

A victorious Tom Brady was named the game's MVP.

Tom Brady put the Patriots up 28-24 with this three-yard touchdown pass to Julian Edeman with 2:02 remaining.

Julian Edelman was a thorn in the Seahawks' side all night, catching nine passes for 109 yards and the game-winning touchdown.

After falling behind by four in the fourth quarter, Seattle got a 31-yard pass to Marshawn Lynch to get into Patriots territory.

Just as the New York Giants got a miraculous catch by David Tyree in their Super Bowl upset of New England, Seattle got one from Jermaine Kearse that gave the Seahawks first-and-goal at the five with a little over a minute to go.

Kearse kept his eye on the ball and batted it around three times before pulling it in.

Super Bowl hero Malcolm Butler was the defender covering Kearse on this 33-yard completion.

Chandler Jones celebrates one of the three sacks of Russell Wilson.

Danny Amendola scores on a four-yard touchdown to pull New England to within three points of the Seahawks, 24-21.

Unheralded Chris Matthews was the star for Seattle, catching four balls for 109 yards and a touchdown at the close of the first half.

Matthews hadn't caught an NFL pass before Sunday's game.

The Seahawks passed up a field-goal attempt with six seconds left before the half and Matthews rewarded them with this scoring catch.

Matthews' catch tied the game at 14-14 at the half.

Earlier in the first half Matthews caught a 44-yard pass against Kyle Arrington.

Matthews' catch against Arrington set up a three-yard touchdown run by Marshawn Lynch that made it a 7-7 game.

Marshawn Lynch finished with 102 yards on 24 carries and this lone touchdown. The Seahawks questionable playcalling in the closing minute denied him the chance to score a likely game winner.

First-year Patriots receiver Brandon LaFell caught one of Tom Brady's four touchdown passes.

Seattle got a touchdown-saving interception by Jeremy Lane in the first quarter but he left the game after injuring his left forearm on the return.

Lane's injury forced Tharold Simon into the game as a replacement and he was the defender on three of the Patriots four touchdown passes.

Lane tried to cushion his fall by extending his arm.

His interception was one of two Seattle came up with against Tom Brady.

Logan Ryan prevents Jermaine Kearse from catching a pass.

Tom Brady equaled Joe Montana with four Lombardi Trophies and three Super Bowl MVPs. He was 37 for 50 for 328 yards against the NFL's top-ranked defense. (Text credit: AP)

Ryan Allen gets toppled by a Seattle defender on an early punt.

Seattle was flagged for hitting Ryan Allen but it wasn't a 15-yarder and a first down.

Julian Edelman and the Patriots hurt Seattle with quick, short catches and then yards after the catch.

Brady gets rid of the ball before the Seattle defense can reach him.

Darrelle Revis tackles a scrambling Russell Wilson.

Marshawn Lynch rumbles for yardage against the Patriots.

Rob Gronkowski had a touchdown catch among his six receptions for 68 yards.

The Patriots had but 13 incompletions among their 50 pass attempts.

Doug Baldwin's wide open three-yard scoring reception with five minutes left in the third quarter gave Seattle at 24-14 lead.

Bobby Wagner had a second-half interception of Tom Brady.

Shane Vereen and the Patriots rejoice over their first Super Bowl win in 10 years.

Rob Gronkowski promised to party into the wee hours of the morning.

The scoreboard says it all.

An unidentified Patriot does a confetti angel.

Julian Edelman enjoys his moment in the spotlight.

The Patriots entered the game with the Deflategate investigation still ongoing.

A view of the stadium before the start of the game.

Edelman appeared disoriented after the play, and several plays later he seemed to have difficulty getting up after an incomplete pass. Edelman was available for post-game interviews, but would not comment on his possible injury.

"We're not allowed to speak about injuries right now," Edelman told one reporter. "We're not allowed to talk about injuries," he said when asked again.

Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels said that he saw Edelman sustain a "big hit," but the receiver did not appear to him to be unable to play. McDaniels said that he wouldn't change his decision-making process unless he was told that a player was out.

Edelman caught the Patriots' game-winning touchdown with a little over two minutes left in the game, and finished with nine receptions for 109 yards. The sixth-year veteran dealt with concussions earlier this season, missing the Patriots' final two regular-season games.

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The NFL has implemented new protocols for possible concussions this season and said last week that brain injuries were down 25 percent during the regular season, to an average of 0.43 incidents per game.

- Christopher Woody

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