Report: Patriots confident Garoppolo, Brissett will be available next week

The New England Patriots have a week to prepare for their next game, and they'll need that time to determine who their starting quarterback will be.

The team is confident either Jimmy Garoppolo or Jacoby Brissett - if not both - will be healthy enough to play in next Sunday's game against the Buffalo Bills, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports.

Garoppolo suffered a sprained AC joint in his shoulder and was unable to play in Thursday night's game against the Houston Texans. Brissett started in his place, but exited his victorious debut with a thumb injury.

A Patriots official said the chances one of the two will be able to start in Week 4 are "decent," and Schefter adds that if neither can suit up, the Patriots would have to sign an additional quarterback, with T.J. Yates being the likely candidate.

It will presumably be the last week the team will have to hop on the quarterback carousel, as Tom Brady will return from his four-game suspension for Week 5's date with the Cleveland Browns.