After Patriots quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo went down with a shoulder injury late in the first half of Sunday’s win over the Dolphins, New England turned to third-stringer Jacoby Brissett to finish the job.
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As someone who is very familiar with New England’s offense, Lindley could serve as an effective and reliable stand-in until Tom Brady returns from his four-game suspension. Two quarterbacks will face off for the first-time ever. The Texans really can’t ask for anything more than a rookie quarterback getting his first National Football League start.
In relation to injuries in the team, there is some good news for the Patriots as linebacker Dont’a Hightower practiced on Tuesday after being out due to a knee injury. In 2014, shortly after the team selected Garoppolo in the second round, Belichick dropped a not-so-subtle hint that they were not about to go through the same freefall that happened in Indy after the Colts lost Peyton Manning. The Patriots potentially could have just one active quarterback on their roster Thursday night, and they also could be without Rob Gronkowski, their most dynamic offensive weapon. It looks like he could realistically be the backup on Thursday, when the Patriots take on the undefeated Houston Texans.
“This is kind of great for the New England Patriots and their coaching staff”, said CBS Sports’ Boomer Esiason. Let me put it a different way – I’m the coach; I do what’s best for the football team. Gronkowski who missed the first two games with a hamstring injury, was a limited participant in practice Tuesday. He said he wants to play this week.
“It’s been a learning process since I got here, as it will be throughout my career, ” said Brissett.
It is highly concerning that the Patriots are to deal with quarterback issues for at least two more games. Houston’s defense hasn’t allowed a touchdown in six consecutive quarters. But in a pinch, they have provided solid quarterbacking play when Brady has been off the field. But after getting 1 ½ sacks and recovering a fumble last week, the defensive end knows he’s getting close.
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“We just have to come together as a team, you know, short week, have to get ready for a good team to come in here and for a hard battle”, he said after practice. “The goal is to be better than before”. Just taking this week the same.
