It might not be a long-term situation, but Jacoby Brissett appears set to be an NFL starter. When Jimmy Garoppolo went down for the New England Patriots on Sunday, Brissett stepped in and will start this Thursday against the Houston Texans.This is more a move out of necessity rather than earning the starting nod like Philip Rivers or Russell Wilson, but it’s notable for NC State. It now has three starting quarterbacks in the NFL this week and has seen four former signal-callers start under center in the league since 2014.With Tom Brady still suspended through Week 4, Julian Edelman, a former quarterback at Kent State, is listed as the No. 2 QB behind Brissett for the Thursday Night Football game. The Pats’ leading receiver gave his thoughts on the rookie quarterback.”He came in and he handled it well,” Edelman told Phil Perry of CSN New England. “He’s a baby, and it’s just funny to see him in the huddle and stuff. I’m proud of him. He handled it real well. He made calls. He made the right run checks and all that stuff. “I’m sure there’s more we could do better, but he came in, and Jacoby handled it like a professional.”Brissett was drafted in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft by the Patriots for depth reasons behind Garoppolo until Brady’s return. That strategy worked out perfectly for New England, who now has a short week with just one true quarterback on the depth chart.Life is about to come at Brissett fast, though, as he faces the 2-0 Houston Texans. J.J. Watt and Jadeveon Clowney are currently terrorizing quarterbacks at will. On the other side, Brissett will have to keep pace with an offense that is thriving with Lamar Miller, DeAndre Hopkins and Will Fuller.After going 6-of-9 for 92 yards against the Miami Dolphins, including a 37-yard pass to a wide open Martellus Bennett, Brissett looked poised in his first action. Now that he’s listed as the first rookie starter for the Pats since Drew Bledsoe in 1993, the former NC State signal-caller is prepared for his shot.”Just preparing since I got here, when I got drafted,” Brissett said. “Just taking one day at a time.”
