It's Jacoby Brissett Time, I Guess

The New England Patriots had prepared to work around Tom Brady’s four-game suspension for the start of the season: Use Jimmy Garoppolo, err on the side of caution with anyone injured, and aim to scrape together a couple of wins. The team’s 2-0 after a 31-24 victory over the Miami Dolphins, but that plan might need to be reworked.

Garoppolo took a shot from Miami linebacker Kiko Alonso today and left with an injury to his throwing shoulder. He had been julienning the Dolphins’ defense, with 234 passing yards and three touchdowns in the first half. After Alonso’s hit, he was out for the rest of the game, and could be for much longer. According to Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald, the team doesn’t expect Garoppolo to be available for the short turnaround against the Houston Texans:

Jacoby Brissett, a rookie quarterback from North Carolina State, replaced Garoppolo and held the lead until the clock ran out. After the game, it sounded like the Patriots believed in Brissett:

That’s one option. If the Patriots want to sign a quarterback, the Thursday game gives him less time to get ready, which would limit play-calling. There’s also nothing good out there. The team would be picking through a bin filled with Matt Flynn, Charlie Whitehurst, Michael Vick, and other backups. (Flynn might be a possibility, since he was briefly in New England last season.) Whatever the solution, don’t count on former Kent State QB Julian Edelman: