Team news: New England Patriots | Page 48

Sources: The Colts are planning on starting QB Jacoby Brissett on Sunday vs. Arizona. Former starter Scott Tolzien goes to the bench.

Related players: T.Y. Hilton, Donte Moncrief, Jack Doyle, Frank Gore

In two starts as a rookie with the Patriots last year, Brissett completed 28 of 46 passes (60.9% completion) for 308 total yards and a 6.70 YPA. He didn't throw a single touchdown or interception, but he did run the ball 12 times for 71 yards and a touchdown. This is not a huge upgrade for Indy from a fantasy standpoint, but there's a chance Brissett posts a decent passing line against Arizona, and that would benefit T.Y. Hilton, Donte Moncrief and Jack Doyle. Brissett's ability to run may open up a few running lanes for Frank Gore.

Colts will divide up the first-team QB reps this week between Scott Tolzien and Jacoby Brissett.

Brissett should get the start since he has displayed some competency while he was with the Patriots, completing 36 of 58 passes (62.1%) with no touchdowns or interceptions. He has the ability to make plays with his legs (16 rushing attempts for 83 yards and a touchdown). With Tolzien under center, T.Y. Hilton is a WR3/WR4 and the rest of the Indianapolis skill players should be benched. If Brissett gets the start, there is at least some hope for Hilton and Co.

With The Franchise sidelined at least another week, the winless Indianapolis Colts are considering sliding new arrival Jacoby Brissett into the starting quarterback spot for Sunday’s home opener against the Arizona Cardinals.

After the way Scott Tolzien played Sunday in Los Angeles, it’s hard to imagine the Colts not giving Brissett a shot. What does this team have to lose?

If Brissett gets the nod for Sunday, he’ll have all of six practices under his belt with the Colts, the story said. That’s tough for any quarterback, let alone one with two career starts to his name and a playbook he’s still absorbing. But the Colts totaled just 179 passing yards Sunday. They went 0-for-10 on third downs. They turned the ball over three times.

The Patriots are trading QB Jacoby Brissett to the Colts for WR Phillip Dorsett, league source tells ESPN.

The Colts have until 4pm eastern to take Andrew Luck off the PUP list or he automatically misses six games. The clock is ticking. It's too early to tell what the speedy Dorsett means to the Patriots offense, but it's likely status quo as the former first-round pick has underwhelmed.

Travis Benjamin has been one of the breakout performers through the first two weeks of training camp, making big plays on a regular basis.

And that continued in last weekend’s preseason opener against the Seattle Seahawks. Benjamin got behind Seattle’s secondary and Kellen Clemens hit him in stride for a 74-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter.

Related players: Keenan Allen, Antonio Gates, Hunter Henry

Benjamin is now fully healthy from a PCL knee sprain and says he has a better understanding of the offense which has given him more confidence. The hope for the Chargers is Benjamin's vertical threat opens up room for Allen, Gates and Henry.

You knew Matt Ryan had faith in Austin Hooper when the league MVP targeted the rookie tight end on consecutive plays in the Super Bowl, the second resulting in a 19-yard touchdown.

The chemistry between the two Atlanta Falcons continued through organized team activities and minicamp, as Ryan put the Super Bowl loss to the New England Patriots behind him and Hooper continued his maturation going into his second season in the offense.

Although Hooper's play stood out this offseason, he was far from content. So the Northern California native recently joined Ryan for three days of workouts in Southern California, a routine Ryan started last season while connecting with the experts at 3DQB training.

"That's what L.A. was about ... just another opportunity for me to work with the MVP and just understand exactly where he wants me to be," Hooper said, "and work routes that we both feel we can progress on."

Hooper had a quiet rookie season, but that's not unusual for a young tight end. He plays in a high-octane offense with one of the better quarterbacks in the league, so there is some upside here.

Patriots Inactives

WR Michael Floyd
QB Jacoby Brissett
RB D.J. Foster
OT LaAdrian Waddle
CB Cyrus Jones
CB Justin Coleman
S Jordan Richards