The Patriots’ backup quarterback-turned-heir apparent to Tom Brady, Jimmy Garoppolo, left the field injured in the first half of his team’s eventual 31-24 win over the Dolphins on Sunday.
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A 23-year-old rookie who was a third-round pick in this year’s draft, Brissett completed 6 of 9 passes for 92 yards against the Dolphins. On plays when he was blitzed, Garoppolo was 7-for-10 for 103 yards and a touchdown.
If there’s any team that can still find ways to win with a third-string quarterback, it’s the Patriots. The injury occurred as Dolphins linebacker Kiko Alonso drove him into the ground.
It was the first completion of Brissett’s pro career, and it might have been the first ball – game or practice – Brissett has thrown to Bennett.
“Jacoby, he handled it like a professional”, receiver Julian Edelman said. “Jimmy was playing his tail off”.
There’s only one certainty about the Thursday night quarterback status for New England: Tom Brady won’t be in the building.
The pair connected four times for 50 yards and two touchdowns before Garoppolo was forced from the game with a shoulder injury.
In the preseason this summer, Brissett worked behind both Brady and Garoppolo.
After the game, Brissett said the offense stayed composed when he had to take Jimmy’s place. “It was just [about] going out there and being ready from the start”.
With a big lead it was disappointing to watch the defense allow Miami to get back in the game.
The Dolphins made a game of it, scoring 21 unanswered after a LeGarrette Blount touchdown gave the Pats a 31-3 third quarter lead. So the Patriots don’t necessarily have to sign a backup who has experience running their offense, namely free agents Matt Flynn or Ryan Lindley. “[The coaches] called everything we’ve got basically”.
Gronkowski’s absence wasn’t exactly unexpected, but there were a few surprises in the inactives for Week 2 – including Pittsburgh wide receiver Markus Wheaton, who will miss the Steelers’ home game against Cincinnati with a shoulder injury.
Players said they expected the game to be close.
“The quarterback – he’s going to prepare for the game the same way, regardless of whether he’s going to start the game or not”, Belichick said. “I feel ready to go”.
The win was much easier than the last time the two teams faced off, when Miami pulled off an upset in the last regular season game back in January.
“He has really good poise, very smart guy”, head coach Bill O’Brien said. “They’re out there tying to make plays, trying to get better as players and it gets us all better”.
“And then (we) had an opportunity to talk at halftime about some things that we wanted to do in the second half and I thought he took advantage of his opportunities”.
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After initial reports that the healing process would be longer, multiple reports Sunday night indicated that Garoppolo had a sprained AC joint and while Thursday night’s game with Houston would seem to be pushing it, he may be able to return for the team’s matchup with Buffalo in Week Four.
