FOXBOROUGH, MA – The Patriots went from one of the deepest teams at the quarterback position to the thinnest in the span of a few months.
After Tom Brady was suspended for the first four games of this season for his role in ‘Deflategate’, promising backup Jimmy Garoppolo stepped in and played phenomenally through six quarters – until he was sidelined too.
Sunday at Gillette Stadium, Garoppolo went down late in the second quarter against the Miami Dolphins with a strained AC joint in his right shoulder.
With Garoppolo immediately having to head to the locker room, 3rd round draft pick rookie QB Jacoby Brissett entered the game.
In a string of bad luck, the Patriots have a short week, having just 3 days to prepare for their next opponent, the Houston Texas, which they’ll face on Thursday Night.
With no more QBs listed on the depth chart, the Patriots will test continue their patented ‘next man up’ methodology, and appoint wide receiver Julian Edelman to backup quarterback.
Julian Edelman will have to be the emergency QB now
— michael lombardi (@mlombardifoxtv) September 18, 2016
The 30-year-old WR in fact played quarterback in college at Kent State.
Edelman is even featured in trick plays New England runs where he ends up throwing the ball downfield after lining up as a wideout.
Though not ideal, the Patriots will likely list Edelman as their backup QB when Houston comes to Foxborough on Thursday, and go after a true backup QB following Week 3, even with limited options.
Top available QBs if the Patriots must sign a backup: Tarvaris Jackson, Whitehurst, Renfree, Vick, Josh Johnson, Yates, Flynn, Clausen.
— Doug Kyed (@DougKyed) September 18, 2016
For what it’s worth, Edelman does have more post-season touchdown passes than any other QB in the AFC East. Let that sink in.
