The Patriots' quarterback situation will have a little more padding now that Jacoby Brissett has been activated to the roster.
Coach Bill Belichick addressed his decision to activate Brissett from injured reserve during his Thursday media conference, comparing Brissett to an insurance policy.
"(Brissett) gives us depth at a position that’s an important position. I don’t know. Nobody needs insurance until you need insurance," Belichick said. "I don’t know if we’re going to need it. I don’t know if we’re not going to need it. At least he knows our system. He’s played here. It’s an important position.
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"I don’t think you want to bring a guy on to the team in the postseason that hasn’t been with you all year, which is where we would be if we only had two quarterbacks. Sometimes that’s where you are. This year we had an option so that’s what we did."
Brissett ended up on the injured reserve after injuring his thumb while filling in for the suspended Tom Brady early in the season.
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The timing for Brissett's return is interesting — Brady was listed as limited in practice Wednesday in what the Patriots called a thigh issue. Brady is still expected to play against the Jets on Saturday, but they will have another option ready if Brady goes down.
"Jacoby got better every day for several months and then he didn’t miss anything in terms of meetings or preparation, traveled with us on the road and so forth," Belichick said of Brissett being ready to return to the field. "He just wasn’t able to do much. Now that’s he’s come back he is working his way back into it.