FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Julian Edelman has made peace with the fact he won’t be playing football for the first four weeks of the regular season.

It won’t stop the veteran New England Patriots receiver from preparing like he’ll be on the field to start the year.

Edelman, 32, made several rounds of apologies to his team and fans following the four-game suspension handed down by the NFL for violating the league’s policy on performance enhancers.

Now he says he plans to use what’s left of training camp to make sure his surgically repaired knee will be ready when he is able to return. He missed the 2017 season with a torn right anterior cruciate ligament.

Working his way back has been a slow process that’s just beginning to pick up.

“It’s been a grind,” Edelman said Friday.

“You’re compounding day after day after day after day. … You’re always trying to go out and get better, and I have to do a lot better. I feel like I’ve got to get my legs under me a lot more.”

Edelman will miss a home game against Houston, trips to Jacksonville and Detroit, plus a home game against Miami.

He’ll be eligible to return to the active roster Oct. 1, enabling him to make his season debut Oct. 4 against Indianapolis.

Part of the urgency for Edelman is fueled by changes the receiving corps has undergone since the end of last season.

It will certainly have a fresh look to it when the season opens thanks to Edelman’s suspension, the free-agency departure of Danny Amendola and trade of Brandin Cooks to the Los Angeles Rams.

That’s compounded even more with the uncertainty surrounding the status of Malcolm Mitchell, who has yet to participate in a full practice after spending last season on injured reserve (knee).

It’s left openings for someone to earn playing time, and the list of candidates is long.

Among those in camp looking to make the roster are Chris Hogan, Phillip Dorsett, Kenny Britt, Cordarrelle Patterson and Braxton Berrios. Free agent Eric Decker signed with the team Friday following the release of Jordan Matthews earlier in the week.

Edelman said he’s encouraged by the work from the group.

He was particularly high on Patterson, a trade acquisition from Oakland.

“He’s a great guy to be around,” Edelman said. “He works hard, he’s very athletic and he definitely helps push the unit, so I’m happy we got him.

“He’s going to contribute in a whole different other way. He’s very versatile, and just from his track record I’m glad we have him.”

Coach Bill Belichick also has been complimentary of the work Patterson’s put in during camp.

“He has skills in offense and the kicking game in a number of different areas, return skills, coverage skills, blocking skills, catching skills,” Belichick said.

“He’s got some experience so he’s able to utilize that. He understands his skill set and how it matches up against different types of players.”