BOSTON (CBS) — A tremendous evening for Julian Edelman quickly turned sour on Thursday night when the receiver was forced out of the game after suffering a head injury in the third quarter.

Edelman took a reverse pitch from Tom Brady on the Patriots leading 35-3 on their initial possession of the second half. Edelman ran around the edge but was hit helmet-to-helmet by LaRon Landry. Because Edelman was a runner and not a defenseless receiver, Landry’s hit was legal and there was no penalty on the play.

Edelman fumbled and remained down on the turf for several moments before getting to his feet and walking to the sideline under his own power. After being checked on the sidelines by team doctors, Edelman eventually went to the locker room and did not return. The team announced it was a head injury.

Edelman scored twice in the game prior to the injury. A Joe McKnight fumble on a kick return bounced right into Edelman’s hands, and he returned it 22 yards for a touchdown. Edelman caught a 56-yard touchdown pass later in the second quarter.

With Rob Gronkowski out for four to eight weeks with a broken forearm, Edelman figures to be a major player in the Patriots’ offense. He’s been on a roll, too, returning a punt for a touchdown and also catching a touchdown last week against the Colts.