Jimmy Garoppolo Answers Call but Injury Creates More Uncertainty for Patriots

Save the New England Patriots, Jacoby Brissett. You’re the team’s only hope. 

Well, the rookie is the team’s best hope for the next two games until the Jedi Master, Tom Brady, returns from his league-mandated four-game suspension.  

But the Patriots aren’t the Rebel Alliance. If anything, they’re the NFL’s version of the Empire, and Bill Belichick’s squad can overcome the loss of the Death Star and rebuild. They’ll just have to do so with a Padawan who will make his first start against J.J. Watt on a short week when the Patriots face the Houston Texans on Thursday Night Football. 

Prior to Brissett’s unexpected entrance during the Patriots’ 31-24 victory over the Miami Dolphins, Jimmy Garoppolo played like a legitimate franchise quarterback. Social media buzzed about the haul New England could eventually get for the second-round pick. After all, this is still Brady’s team, and Garoppolo will be a free agent in 17 months. 

His time behind a future Hall of Fame quarterback appeared to pay off for the third-year signal-caller. In his first two starts, Garoppolo completed 70 percent of his passes for 498 yards and four touchdowns. 

Unfortunately, the Eastern Illinois product may never play another snap for the Patriots.

Such a proclamation may sound extreme, but the quarterback injured his throwing shoulder when he rolled to his right and Kiko Alonso tackled him, courtesy of Fox Sports’ Pete Blackburn: 

Jimmy G hurt pic.twitter.com/XUH0jbpAZw

— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) September 18, 2016

According to the Boston Herald’s Jeff Howe, Garoppolo’s injury could take up to six weeks to heal. By the time he’s healthy, Brady will already be back in the lineup with a potential offseason trade to a quarterback-starved franchise on the horizon. 

Until then, offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels must prepare Brissett. As well as Garoppolo played in Brady’s stead, no one should expect a massive step back with the rookie in the lineup.

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