Sunday’s thriller against the Miami Dolphins had it’s moments for the Patriots as they ride to 2-0 in the 2016 season, but what looms over Foxboro are injuries that can cost the team a lot.
Most notably, Jimmy Garoppolo went down after Dolphins LB Kiko Alonso essentially put all of his weight on the third year QB when tackling him, which ended up as the MRI showed an AC joint sprain in Garoppolo’s right shoulder. New England fans went into panic mode after watching the third year backup slow to get up and immediately knew something was wrong.
Fortunately, Jacoby Brissett, the rookie QB out of NC State, was highly praised coming out of the middle of the pack ACC school. Former coach of Brissett, Bill Parcells loves the idea of Brissett learning this offense and just being apart of this team sources say and it was rightfully so as now, the Pats have to rely on the 6’4 235 pound athletic rookie to guide them this Thursday night against Brock Osweiler and the Houston Texans.
Some pointers about Houston starts with the dynamic receiving core of DeAndre Hopkins and rookie Will Fuller, coming out of Brian Kelly’s program at Notre Dame. The Patriots secondary better keep their instincts locked on those two but watch out for the backfield along with Osweiler’s sneaky athleticism. Injuries have rattled the Patriots and without LB Hightower especially, the defense will have to shift gears a bit but the Patriots always get the saying “Next Man Up”.
For Brissett, his weapons like last game will consist of Edelman, Amendola, Slater at times, Martellus Bennett, possibly A.J. Derby and a big chunk of yardage I believe from the backfield. Blount, James White and the emergence of rookie D.J. Foster, who I believed at the beginning of training camp would make the 53 man roster and he did (WEEI heard me as I called in and made my bold prediction), are all a great combination of versatile running and receiving backs that grind each and every week.
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