The New England Patriots finally traded their backup quarterback.
But not that one.
On Saturday, the Patriots sent second-year quarterback Jacoby Brissett to the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for wide receiver Phillip Dorsett, both teams announced.
Jimmy Garoppolo, who was involved in several offseason trade rumors, is staying put for now and will continue to serve as the primary backup to four-time Super Bowl MVP Tom Brady.
The move provides insurance for the Colts as three-time Pro Bowl starter Andrew Luck continues to recover from shoulder surgery in January. Luck passed a physical Saturday afternoon, making him eligible to be removed from the physically unable to perform (PUP) list.
However, Colts owner Jim Irsay on Thursday said that Luck was unlikely to be ready for the team’s Week 1 game on the road against the Los Angeles Rams on Sept. 10. Scott Tolzien is Luck’s backup.
“I would say the odds are most likely he probably won’t open up against the Rams,” Irsay told reporters of Luck. “But let me be clear about it: In our own minds it’s something that we haven’t ruled out.”
Brissett, 24, started two games for the Patriots last season during Brady’s four-game Deflategate suspension following an injury to Garoppolo, becoming the first African-American quarterback to start a game for New England.
His first start came Sept. 22 in a 27-0 win against the Houston Texans. Brissett completed 11 of 19 passes for 103 yards and rushed for 48 yards and one touchdown on eight carries.
Brissett went 17 of 27 with 205 yards in his next start the following week, a 16-0 home loss to the AFC East rival Buffalo Bills.
He made his NFL debut on Sept. 18, completing 6 of 9 passes for 92 yards after Garoppolo left the game after suffering an injury.
Brissett finished his rookie season having completed 34 of 55 passes for 400 yards while rushing for 83 yards and the one touchdown on 16 carries in three games.
The Patriots selected Brissett with the 91st overall pick in the third round of the 2016 draft out of NC State.
In New England’s preseason finale against the New York Giants on Aug. 31, Brissett piled up 341 yards on 28-of-39 passing, four touchdowns and one interception in New England’s 40-38 loss.
Dorsett, 24, is entering his third NFL season after the Colts drafted him with the No. 29 overall pick in the first round of the 2015 draft. He has 51 career receptions for 753 yards and three touchdowns in 26 games (seven starts).
Last season, Dorsett set career highs in catches (33), receiving yards (528) and touchdowns (two) while starting seven of the 15 games he played for Indianapolis.
New England lost wide receiver Julian Edelman to a torn ACL in the team’s third preseason game.
