Garoppolo was on the field for the the Patriots' last four snaps on offense in Sunday's 20-10 loss to the Dolphins, after entering the game with 1:56 remaining on the clock, ESPN's Mike Reiss reports. Garoppolo completed one pass (on his first four attempts of the season) for six yards in the process.
As the 2015 season approached, Garoppolo was penciled in as the Patriots' early-season starter, thanks to starter Tom Brady's NFL-imposed four-game suspension, but once that ruling was overturned, Garoppolo reverted to his duties as the team's No. 2 QB. While that kept the 24-year-old in a reserve role, coach Bill Belichick noted after the completion of the regular season that Garoppolo has made "great strides" this year in various areas of his game. "We see it on a daily basis," Belichick added. In advance of the postseason, Brady is nursing an ankle injury, but it's not an issue that is expected to sideline him for any game action.