With fellow quarterback Tom Brady's four-game suspension having been nullified, per ESPN.com, Garoppolo is no longer in line to start the Patriots' Sept. 10 regular-season opener against the Steelers.

Prior to Thursday's ruling, Garoppolo had been in line to fill in for Brady, but he'll now revert to his role as the team's No. 2 signal-caller. Though Garoppolo is no longer in line to get the chance to helm the Patriots' offense early on, the uncertainly with regard to Brady's situation presumably hastened the second-year quarterback's development to a degree, something which could well leave him in a better situation to flourish in the event that Brady ends up missing game action for any reason this season.

Garoppolo completed 13-of-17 pass attempts for 126 yards and a touchdown in Friday's preseason win at Carolina. He also had three rushes for 19 yards.

Garoppolo took over for Tom Brady after halftime, and was productive for the second straight week, hooking up with Aaron Dobson on a 40-yard pass, while also tossing a nine-yard touchdown to Dion Lewis early in the fourth quarter. He's gaining some momentum heading into the regular season, so fantasy owners should take note, given the uncertainty of Brady's suspension.

Garoppolo was 28-of-33 passing for 269 yards with a touchdown and an interception in Saturday's win over New Orleans. He led the Patriots on five scoring drives.

Garoppolo took over after Tom Brady led three drives and had a strong performance for the final three quarters. After an up-and-down performance in last week's preseason game, Garoppolo had an outing that should reassure owners he can be productive while Tom Brady serves a four-game suspension to begin the regular season.

Garoppolo completed 20-of-30 passes for 159 yards and a pick, while seeing the bulk of the action at QB for the Patriots in Thursday's preseason opener against the Packers.

After coming into the game late in the first quarter following Tom Brady's exit, Garoppolo -- who was working with a shorthanded pass-catching corps Thursday -- played deep into the fourth quarter. While the second-year signal-caller seemed to settle down as the game progressed, it's notable that he was sacked seven times for 52 yards, so clearly there's room for improvement for Garoppolo, who is currently penciled in as the team's starter once the regular season begins, thanks to Brady's NFL-imposed four-game suspension.

With Tom Brady not expected to play in Thursday's preseason opener against the Packers, Garoppolo is a candidate to see the majority of the Patriots' QB reps in the contest, NESN.com reports.

With Brady having missed practice Tuesday in advance of Wednesday's settlement conference with Commissioner Roger Goodell in New York, Garoppolo and newcomer Ryan Lindley shared the Patriots' QB reps during the session. Assuming Garoppolo does start Thursday's contest, it would provide the second-year signal caller -- who at present remains in line to start the Patriots' first four games due to Brady's suspension -- with valuable preseason reps, with and against first-teamers.

With the NFL having upheld Tom Brady's four-game suspension, Garoppolo is in line to start the Patriots' first four regular season contests, NFL.com reports.

Per the NFL's confirmation of Brady's suspension, the veteran signal-caller is eligible to return to action in Week 6, given that the Patriots' bye is in Week 4. Garoppolo will thus have a chance to gain some valuable NFL starting experience out of the gate this season, and in the process he'll posses a degree of early-season fantasy utility while helming the New England offense.

Garoppolo and Tom Brady are splitting quarterback reps in OTAs, the Boston Herald reports.

With starting QB Tom Brady having been suspended for the first four games of the 2015 NFL season, Garoppolo is in line to fill in at the position for the Patriots early on. While it's plausible that Brady's June 23 appeal could result in a reduction of his suspension, for the time being, the team will prepare for a scenario in which Garoppolo helms the team's offense to open the coming season.

With Tom Brady having been suspended for the first four games of the 2015 NFL season, Garoppolo is in line to start at QB for the Patriots early on.

It's plausible that Brady's suspension could be reduced on an appeal, but as it stands now, Garoppolo is line to start the team's first four games, with Brady eligible to return to action in Week 6, given that the team's bye is in Week 4. Garoppolo will thus have a chance to accrue some NFL starting experience out of the gate this season, while gaining a degree of early-season fantasy utility while helming the New England offense.

After taking over for Tom Brady to begin the third quarter of Sunday's 17-9 loss to the Bills, Garoppolo completed 10-of-17 passes for 90 yards, while rushing four times for 16 yards.

With the Patriots locked into the No. 1 playoff seed in the AFC, Garoppolo saw his most extensive action of the regular season on Sunday. The rookie signal-caller will return to backup duties once the team resumes play in the divisional round of the NFL postseason.

After the Chiefs took a 41-7 lead in the fourth quarter of Monday night's game, Garoppolo replaced starting QB Tom Brady and completed 6-of-7 passes for 70 yards and a 13-yard touchdown to Rob Gronkowski, the Boston Herald reports.

Garoppolo looked sharp in garbage time Monday, while gaining some valuable regular season experience, but he remains a Brady injury away from anything other than spot duty for the Patriots.

Garoppolo is in line to serve as Tom Brady's top backup, with Ryan Mallett having been dealt to the Texans, ESPN.com reports.

Given that the Patriots selected Garoppolo in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft, 62nd overall, his ascension to the role seemed inevitable, though with Mallett in the last year of his rookie deal, a scenario in which Garoppolo worked as the team's No. 3 QB out of the gate existed. Garoppolo's preseason efforts were evidently enough for the Patriots to feel confident in the rookie's ability to handle the No. 2 role, however, which is an assignment that puts him an injury away from fantasy consideration.

Garoppolo completed 22-of-42 passes for 284 yards, with a touchdown and a pick in Thursday's preseason finale against the Giants.

Garoppolo played the team's entire preseason finale, as the Patriots continue to weigh their backup QB options. While ESPN's Mike Reiss suggests that Garoppolo has made a serious challenge to overtake Ryan Mallett, he suggests in his latest roster projection that Mallett will be retained by the Patriots. In any case, confirmation of that outcome, one way or the other, will come shortly, with final roster cuts looming.

Garoppolo is expected to start Thursday's preseason finale against the Giants and play the majority, if not all, of the contest, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports.

Meanwhile, the Patriots are expected to hold fellow QB Ryan Mallett out of the contest, with speculation that the team may deal, or even possibly consider releasing Mallett in advance of roster cut-downs. In any case, it looks like the Patriots' backup QB situation behind Tom Brady will be one to monitor in the coming days.

Garoppolo completed 9-of-12 passes for 105 yards and a touchdown in Friday's preseason game against the Panthers.

Garoppolo played most of the second half, while Ryan Mallett oddly played one series in the first half, only to have Tom Brady go back in. Garoppolo was expected to serve as the No. 3 quarterback this season, but he's making Mallett look rather expendable. While it's hard to say what the Patriots are thinking here, they seemed happy with Mallett as the backup for the past few seasons. The fourth-year pro may still keep that job, but he's lost some security over the last few weeks.

In relief of top QB Tom Brady, Garoppolo saw work in the final five drives of the first half of Friday's preseason game against the Eagles, ESPN.com reports. In the process, Garoppolo completed 6-of-12 passes for 72 yards, with a pair of TD passes.

It's notable that Garoppolo entered Friday's game ahead of Ryan Mallett -- who played the entire second half -- though it as ESPN.com's Mike Reiss suggests, it remains to be seen at this stage if the move signals that the rookie is threatening Mallett's position on the Patriots' QB depth chart, or if the team simply wanted to get a look at Garoppolo (who largely worked against Washington's third-stringers last week) against superior competition.

Garoppolo outplayed Ryan Mallett in Thursday's preseason opener against the Redskins, completing 9-of-13 passes for 157 yards and a touchdown, with another nine yards on one carry.

Of Garoppolo's four drives, only one can truly be considered unsuccessful. One ended at the Redskins' four-yard line and another with a fumble by RB Stephen Houston, while the rookie's last drive resulted in a touchdown. Meanwhile, Ryan Mallett played the entire first half and was terrible, perhaps opening the door for Garoppolo to seize the No. 2 role. This could be a fun battle to watch for the rest of the preseason, even though there's the distinct possibility that neither player handles a meaningful snap in a regular-season contest.