Bill Belichick: Status of QB Jimmy Garoppolo could be game-time decision
— -- FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- The New England Patriots might not have clarity on the status of injured quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo until 90 minutes before the kickoff of Thursday night's game against the visiting Houston Texans, coach Bill Belichick said Wednesday.
"It might be as early as this afternoon, it might be as late as when we turn in the inactives tomorrow night," Belichick said on 98.5 The Sports Hub. "We'll just have to see how it all comes together. Any time you have a short week like this, you always have a few players that are banged up and working their way back. Where exactly they'll be on game time Thursday night, a lot of times you don't know until Thursday night."
Garoppolo, who sprained the AC joint in his right shoulder Sunday, was listed by the team as a limited participant in Tuesday's walkthrough practice. Garoppolo was not present when reporters were present at Tuesday's practice.
Rookie Jacoby Brissett is the only other quarterback on the Patriots' active roster. The team, which worked out free agents T.J. Yates and Sean Renfree on Wednesday but didn't sign either one, doesn't have a quarterback on the practice squad. New England's depth will be thin until two-time MVP? Tom Brady returns from a four-game suspension on Oct. 3.
Wide receiver Julian Edelman would be an emergency option for the Patriots in the event of injury, which is something third-year Texans coach Bill O'Brien knows first-hand from his time as a Patriots assistant.
"Obviously with Julian, I was there when they drafted him. He was a shotgun, wildcat quarterback at Kent State, and really good at it," O'Brien said. "I can remember doing some of those things with him over the couple years that I was with him in practice there. I know that he can do that."
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