Jimmy Garoppolo says he still doesn’t know if he’ll be the starter for preseason Game 3

"Your guess is as good as mine."

Jimmy Garoppolo isn't sure if he'll start Friday. John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe

August 25, 2016

1 minute to read

Bill Belichick has been mum to the media about who will start at quarterback in the Patriots’ preseason games. Apparently, he hasn’t informed his quarterbacks, either.Jimmy Garoppolo didn’t know he was going to start ahead of last Thursday’s preseason win over the Bears. And the same holds true as the Patriots head to play the Panthers in Carolina for preseason Week 3.

“Your guess is as good as mine,” Garoppolo said Wednesday when asked who will start. “I’m preparing like I’m going to be the starter. You never know, last week was a good example, you never know what’s going to happen. We’ll go from there I guess.”

Garoppolo made the surprise start after Tom Brady reportedly sliced his hand with scissors. Despite the injury, Tom Brady should be available to play Friday. In the Patriots’ two preseason games, Garoppolo is 27 of 39 for a touchdown. Brady has yet to play.

Garoppolo may not know if he’s the starter Thursday, but he’s been named the starter for Week 1 of the regular season, when Tom Brady is set to serve his four-game suspension for Deflategate. He said he’s not thinking about his Sept. 11 matchup with the Cardinals yet.

“We’ve got a big game Friday and we’re not taking it lightly at all,” Garoppolo said. “They’re a very talented football team with a very good defense, that front seven, they’re really talented, so we have our hands full right now.”