CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- New England Patriots quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo took a step back in Friday’s 19-17 preseason win against the Carolina Panthers, and Tom Brady was rusty in his preseason debut but delivered one of the few offensive highlights of the night -- a 33-yard touchdown to receiver Chris Hogan in the second quarter.
It marked the first time Brady came off the bench since 2001 when he replaced Drew Bledsoe in the second game of the regular season.
Bill Belichick has repeated multiple times in training camp that the team's priority was getting Garoppolo ready for the regular season as Brady is set to serve a four-game suspension, but that Brady and rookie quarterback Jacoby Brissett also were important. How Belichick planned to manage repetitions between the quarterbacks has been a hot-button topic, and this is how it broke down Friday:
Garoppolo started and played the first three series (13 snaps). Brady replaced him for four series (16 snaps), before Garoppolo returned for three more series by playing into the third quarter (14 snaps, not including kneel-downs). Brissett finished the game, entering with 3:48 left in the third quarter, while turning in the most efficient performance playing against Carolina's backups.
The offense didn't score under Garoppolo -- in part because of a missed 30-yard field goal attempt by Stephen Gostkowski on the opening drive -- and had nine points with Brady at the helm.
Garoppolo finished 9-of-15 for 57 yards, with no touchdowns and no interceptions. Brady was 3-of-9 for 76 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions.
This was below the normal standard for the usually potent Patriots offense.
“Ups and downs. It’s little things here and there we needed to get corrected, and we will take care of it,” Garoppolo said.
Of the rotation between him and Brady, Garoppolo said, “It’s different, but you don’t know what to expect or when you are going to play or when you are going to be taken out. You just have to react and respond to it in the right way. Overall, there were some good things we did, but we have to get the little things corrected or they’re going to bite us in the butt.”
Brady, meanwhile, didn’t address reporters after the game.
When it was starters vs. starters, the Patriots looked ...: Outstanding on defense, disappointing on offense. The Patriots' offense was 0-for-7 on third down in the first half. On defense, the Rutgers trifecta of Logan Ryan, Devin McCourty and Duron Harmon had first-half interceptions, with McCourty's pick coming when defensive end Chris Long dropped in coverage and tipped a Cam Newton pass thrown over the middle. The D looks ready for the regular season. The offense? Not so much based on this game.
One reason to possibly be concerned: Garoppolo's performance. After making notable strides from the preseason opener against the Saints to the second game against the Bears, he struggled Friday. The Panthers' defense deserves some credit, but this wasn't a confidence-building performance. Then again, in the 2008 preseason, backup quarterback Matt Cassel looked overmatched at times and that worked out OK in an 11-5 regular season after he took over for an injured Brady.
Mingo joins team, doesn't play: Defensive end/outside linebacker Barkevious Mingo joined the Patriots in Charlotte after being acquired in a trade with Cleveland on Thursday, and while he went through some conditioning work on the field before the game, he didn't dress. Mingo, who has been assigned No. 51, watched the game on the sideline.
Gronkowski among those who don't dress. Tight end Rob Gronkowski headlined a group of 13 players (not including Mingo) who didn't dress. Others were receiver Danny Amendola (PUP), defensive tackle Alan Branch, linebacker Kamu Grugier-Hill, guard Jonathan Cooper, guard Tre Jackson (PUP), running back Dion Lewis, guard Shaq Mason, defensive end/outside linebacker Shea McClellin, receiver Malcolm Mitchell, defensive end Rob Ninkovich, defensive end Jabaal Sheard, and right tackle Sebastian Vollmer.
Edelman makes debut. After going through his trademark pregame warm-up in which he caught one-handed passes, receiver Julian Edelman played for the first time since undergoing offseason surgery on his left foot. He was called for a costly holding penalty and played 17 snaps, totaling one catch for six yards.
Knighton's roster spot could be in trouble. Veteran defensive tackle Terrance Knighton didn't play in the first half, which could be an indication that his roster spot is in jeopardy. Third-round draft choice Vincent Valentine and five-year veteran Markus Kuhn took the snaps alongside 2015 first-round pick Malcom Brown in place of Knighton. When undrafted rookie Woodrow Hamilton and second-year player Joe Vellano played over him in the third and fourth quarters, it was another ominous sign.
A surprise player who impressed: For the third straight week, right tackle Marcus Cannon turned in a performance that didn't make anyone take note for the wrong reasons. With starter Sebastian Vollmer likely to land on injured reserve, according to the Boston Globe, the Patriots might have to rely on Cannon.
Who got hurt? The Patriots appeared to come out of the game clean.