Option play in game plan
Uncertainty surrounds Garoppolo
PATRIOTS NOTEBOOK
FOXBORO — When it comes to the Patriots’ quarterback situation, the unknowns far outweigh any tangible projections.
After Jimmy Garoppolo sprained the AC joint in his right throwing shoulder on a hit from Dolphins linebacker Kiko
Alonso in the second quarter of Sunday’s 31-24 win, options became limited for Thursday night’s game against the Texans.
“I’m not exactly sure,” offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels said yesterday of whether the team would bring in another quarterback.
Even coach Bill Belichick played it coy on WEEI’s Dale and Holley Show.
“Possibly,” Belichick said. “We’ll see how it goes.”
Belichick did add the team will “probably” bring someone in for a workout.
Possibly, probably, maybe, perhaps, but it’s unlikely the team brings in someone from the outside.
So who will backup likely starter Jacoby Brissett? It could be Garoppolo, if the team determines he’s healthy enough.
In the hypothetical injury report required by league rules, the team said Garoppolo would not have participated if they practiced yesterday.
Garoppolo completed 18-of27 passes for 234 yards and three touchdowns, and while Brissett went 6-of-9 for 92 yards.
But with Tom Brady in the midst of his four-game suspension, Brissett is the only healthy quarterback on the active roster. That leaves open as emergency solutions the possibility for wide receiver Julian Edelman and tight end AJ Derby, both of whom played some quarterback in college (in Edelman’s case, exclusively).
But exposing a player like Edelman to injury during a moonlighting stint at quarterback seems like a risk. Wide receiver Danny Amendola said yesterday he wasn’t sure what the coaches would do, but did offer up that he had just spent time with Garoppolo.
“We were eating some cereal,” he said.
He praised Garoppolo as a competitor who “will do all he can to work around the clock to get ready for this week.” He then cracked, “He’s a tough kid. He’s Italian, so you can never count him out.”
McDaniels said that regardless of who is behind center, the team will not significantly alter the preparation or game plan.
“Our formula won’t change,” he said. “We’ll just try to figure out exactly what it is that we feel best about based on the circumstances that we’ll have ultimately for the game and then try to go out there and play our best on Thursday night.”
Likes what he sees
In his weekly appearance with Jim Gray on Westwood One as part of the Monday Night Football broadcast, Brady said Garoppolo’s future is in his own hands.
“Well, I think that’s going to be decided by him,” Brady said. “Obviously, the way he started, it’s been a great start starting games in the NFL. He’s a really hard worker and proud of the way he led the team. I know he’ll be fighting hard to be out there this week and he’s done a really great job.”
Brady was encouraged by the way Garoppolo helped the team jump out to a 24-3 halftime lead.
“We got off to a great start,” he said. “He was really firing the ball in there, very accurate and decisive with good throws. It was great to see.”
Strong presence
Teammates and coaches alike complimented Brissett’s poise.
Both Belichick and McDaniels did so, and Amendola pointed out Brissett’s study habits as the reason for the rookie’s success in that facet.
“I mean, he’s a smart, young kid,” Amendola said. “I know he hasn’t been in the NFL for a long time, but he seems to really grasp what the offense is trying to do. He learns well from these coaches and I’m excited to see what the future holds for him.”
Bumps and bruises
Several Patriots, who either suffered or appeared to suffer injuries, looked fine at yesterday’s open locker room period.
Linebacker Dont’a Hightower, who hurt a knee against the Cardinals and missed the Dolphins game, was walking without anything on the knee. Cornerback
Malcolm Butler (ankle) was not limping, and defensive back Eric
Rowe was no longer on crutches. Hightower and Rowe were listed as “did not participate” on the injury report. Rob Gronkowski, Jonathan Cooper and Trey Flowers were “limited” in the hypothetical practice.
Center David Andrews, who CSNNE reported received an X-ray after Sunday’s game, had no noticeable injury and was not listed on the report.