Could Garoppolo Play Thursday Night?

Jimmy Garoppolo had three touchdown passes before leaving in the second quarter with a right shoulder injury

The New England Patriots have a brand new quarterback issue. 

Jimmy Garoppolo had three touchdown passes before leaving in the second quarter with a right shoulder injury as the New England Patriots outlasted the Miami Dolphins 31-24 on Sunday. 

It was the Patriots' eighth straight home victory over Miami (0-2). It came at a price as New England (2-0) was dealt another blow at quarterback with Tom Brady already out his four-game "Deflategate" suspension. 

Garoppolo's injury came on third down with less than five minutes left in the first half. He was chased out of the pocket and got off a completion to Malcolm Mitchell and driven into the ground on his shoulder by Miami linebacker Kiko Alonso. 

Garoppolo initially got up, before going down to one knee and being attended to by the training staff. He ended his day 18 of 27 for 234 yards and the three scores. 

Patriots coach Bill Belichick, never one to reveal much information, said of Garoppolo's injury: "I don't know yet. So we'll take it day by day." 

Garoppolo was at Gillette Stadium on Monday, and teammate Danny Amendola said he wouldn't be surprised to see the quarterback play on Thursday night against the Houston Texans.

The third-year quarterback was replaced on Sunday by rookie Jacoby Brissett, who led New England to a touchdown on its first possession of the second half. Brissett was 6 of 9 for 92 yards. LeGarrette Blount rushed 29 times for 123 yards and a touchdown. Martellus Bennett also had five catches 114 and a touchdown. 

The Dolphins, who beat the Patriots in Miami in last season's finale, had no answers for New England's offense early and fell into a 24-0 hole as they were stymied by three turnovers. Ryan Tannehill finally found some traction and trimmed a 31-3 deficit to 31-24 with 6:06 to play. 

Tannehill didn't complete a pass until the second quarter as the Patriots' defensive line pressured him into quick throws. The pressure culminated with Tannehill being intercepted by linebacker Jamie Collins late in the first half. 

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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