Sep 18, 2016; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Jacoby Brissett (7) throws a pass against Miami Dolphins defensive end Mario Williams (94) in the second half at Gillette Stadium. The Patriots defeated the Miami Dolphins 31-24. Photo Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Jacoby Brissett didn’t throw an interception in 187 passes for North Carolina State in 2014.
Sunday, in what was supposed to be his role of cheering Jimmy Garoppolo on the New England Patriots sidelines, he threw his first nine NFL passes and still hasn’t been guilty of a pick.
“Look, he’s been working for this for a long time, all the way back to the spring, all the way through training camp,” Patriots coach Bill Belichick said after Brissett replaced the injured Jimmy Garoppolo late in the second quarter of what turned out to be New England’s 31-24 victory over the Miami Dolphins.
“He’s gotten a lot of reps. He did a good job; pressure situation, played two and a half quarters and he did a good job for us.”
Garoppolo left Sunday’s game with a right shoulder injury. According to reports, Garoppolo suffered a sprained AC joint in his throwing shoulder that likely would keep him out of Thursday’s game against the Houston Texans, but the team hopes he can return for Week 4.
Brissett looks to get his first NFL start for Thursday night’s home game.
“When it’s time to go, you just have to make sure you’re ready,” said Brissett. “Whenever the opportunity comes, you’ve got to make sure you’re ready for it.
“I felt prepared and did enough for us to secure the win.”
Brissett’s first two NFL passes, quick outs to Julian Edelman, weren’t handled. But when he came out in the second half, the third-round draft pick took what had suddenly become his team down the field. There was a 37-yard completion Martellus Bennett turned into a big play with a stiff arm. There was a 15-yard pass to Bennett, a 7-yarder to Julian Edelman — and a 9-yard touchdown run to LeGarrette Blount.
The rookie also managed the final drive that should have ended in a field goal — only to have the usually automatic Stephen Gostkowski miss from 39 yards.
“I think Jacoby has a great deal of maturity for a young player,” said special teams captain Matthew Slater.
Said guard Joe Thuney, a fellow rookie, “Jacoby is a good player. He came in, had a lot of poise. We play with the next-man-up mentality.”
“It’s unfortunate, but Jacoby came in and handled it pretty well,” said Edelman. “It’s great to see that when we had to score and we had to get some points and we had to move the ball, we were able to do that.”
While Brissett didn’t look out of place in his debut, Garoppolo was as close to being the missing Brady as anyone in the New England camp could have hoped for.
He has taken the team to touchdowns on his first two opening drives. He has thrown four touchdown passes with no interceptions. And now he’s hurt.
Next man up.
