Report: Patriots preparing Edelman for backup QB role

Julian Edelman will be one play away from seeing his first NFL action at quarterback Thursday night.

As the New England Patriots head into their Week 3 matchup with the Houston Texans potentially without Jimmy Garoppolo, the coaching staff is doing "extensive preparation" to get Edelman ready as a backup to third-round rookie Jacoby Brissett, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

New England had the option to sign one of many free-agent signal-callers after Garoppolo suffered a shoulder injury in Sunday's win over the Miami Dolphins, but even an experienced veteran would have a tough time stepping in and running anything other than the most basic plays on a few days' notice.

Edelman, who played quarterback at Kent State, gives the Patriots an emergency option that prevents them from having to free up a roster spot by cutting another player.

The Patriots will certainly plan on Brissett playing the entire game, meanwhile holding out hope that Garoppolo can make a third start amid Tom Brady's Deflategate suspension.

But all signs continue to point toward Edelman getting the call in the event of another quarterback injury. New England's offense would, of course, take on a much different identity in such a scenario, presumably turning to the kind of wildcat concepts their star wideout ran successfully in college.