Patriots’ Starting Quarterback Vs. Texans Could Be Game-Time Decision

FOXBORO, Mass. — We might not know who will start at quarterback for the New England Patriots on Thursday until shortly before kickoff.

Asked during his Tuesday news conference whether quarterback would be a game-time decision, Patriots coach Bill Belichick said, “It could be, sure.”

“It would depend on the situation,” he added. “It would depend on a lot of things. It’s possible, sure.”

The Patriots’ quarterback situation is steeped in uncertainty in the wake of Jimmy Garoppolo’s shoulder injury. Garoppolo was not present at Tuesday’s walkthrough, but the team has not ruled him out for Thursday’s game against the Houston Texans, according to multiple reports.

New England also had not signed a free-agent signal-caller as of Tuesday afternoon, making rookie Jacoby Brissett their only option at the position. Brissett made his NFL debut Sunday after Garoppolo went down, completing 6 of 9 passes for 92 yards in a 31-24 win over the Miami Dolphins.

Thumbnail photo via Mark J. Rebilas/USA TODAY Sports Images