Jacoby Brissett played the best game of his NFL career Thursday night, throwing for four touchdowns and running for another in the New England Patriots’ preseason finale.
It ended up being his final game in a Patriots uniform.
New England on Saturday traded its third-string quarterback to the Indianapolis Colts for wide receiver Phillip Dorsett. ESPN’s Field Yates was the first to report the deal, and the teams later confirmed it.
The 29th overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, Dorsett caught 33 passes for 528 yards and two touchdowns last season. As for whether he can fill the Patriots’ void at punt returner, the University of Miami product has returned just two punts in his two pro seasons but returned 25 for the Hurricanes as well as 25 kickoffs.
Dorsett, who ran a blazing 4.33-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine and a 4.28 at his pro day, brings even more speed to a Patriots receiving corps which added Brandin Cooks (4.33 seconds) earlier this year.
Barring any late surprises, New England’s 53-man roster likely will include six wide receivers: Cooks, Dorsett, Chris Hogan, Malcolm Mitchell, Danny Amendola and special teamer Matthew Slater.
Brissett, meanwhile, joins a Colts team with question marks at quarterback. Andrew Luck had shoulder surgery in January, and his status for Week 1 remains unclear. Scott Tolzien currently is Indianapolis’ top backup.
The highlight of Brissett’s Patriots tenure was the 27-0 win over the Houston Texans he guided New England to last season while Tom Brady was suspended and Jimmy Garoppolo was injured. With Brady and Garoppolo now both healthy and active, it’s unlikely Brissett, a third-round pick last year, would have seen the field this season.
Thumbnail photo via Bruce Kluckhohn/USA TODAY Sports Images
