Team news: New England Patriots | Page 54

Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski (hamstring, questionable) took limited practice reps Wednesday. We won’t if Gronk will play Thursday night until the inactives are released. Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald thinks this is the week that Gronkowski makes his return. Since the Patriots have two wins in two weeks, and a longer layoff after the Thursday game, it’s possible that they would continue to rest Gronk with the idea of getting him fully healthy for Tom Brady’s return in Week 5. If he’s out, Martellus Bennett would draw the start, but with Jacoby Brissett likely under center, there’s no telling how much the Patriots will be willing to throw the ball.

When Jimmy Garoppolo was a rookie in 2014, the New England Patriots coaching staff announced early in the week that he would be the starter for the final preseason game, in part because they wanted him to experience what it was like to be the No. 1 option in the days leading up to the game, which included media responsibilities.

Might they do the same this year with rookie quarterback Jacoby Brissett, or at least give him more time earlier in the Sept. 1 preseason finale at the New York Giants?

Bill Belichick didn't dismiss the possibility in a Saturday conference call, as Brissett has played only in the second half of the first three preseason games (totaling 77 snaps).

"I think that's a good question, it's a fair question, it's one we really have to give some good consideration to," he said.

"As I've said before, I think whatever we do will benefit whoever does it. We want to get Jimmy [Garoppolo] ready to play for the Arizona game [opening the regular season Sept. 11].

"Tom [Brady] isn't going to be playing for a while, so it's kind of his last chance to play until he comes back after a few weeks.