News & Neuigkeiten » our job, is be energy guys off the bench, D

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Bill Belichick has never been one to tip his hand on anything, especially his plans leading into a game.He was even more coy than usual in this short week as New England prepared to host the Texans (2-0) Thursday night in the aftermath of quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo injuring his throwing shoulder in last weeks win over Miami.With Tom Brady still two weeks shy of the end of his Deflategate suspension, rookie Jacoby Brissett is the next healthy man in line. But two things complicate him possibly getting his first start.First, Belichick has only once started a rookie quarterback -- Eric Zeier during his final season as coach of the Browns in 1995. Secondly, theres the very real question whether Belichick feels comfortable enough throwing Brissett into his first NFL start opposite an active Houston defense that leads the league with nine sacks in two games.Add to that Garoppolo hasnt been completely ruled out, after he returned to practice on a limited basis Tuesday.Each week it seems like there is always some position that you have to take into consideration what your depth is there, Belichick said. Obviously, you take into consideration your opponent and how you want to try and play the game, what you want to try and do against them, and put it all together and do the best you can.New England (2-0) will match up with a Houston quarterback with some success against it on his resume. Brock Osweiler was under center last November in Denver when the Broncos overcame a 14-0 deficit for a 30-24 overtime victory to give New England its first loss of 2015.Osweiler said coach Bill OBrien told him that game went a long way in him wanting to bring the 25-year-old to Houston, and that he certainly gained confidence from it.I definitely am looking at it as two different football games, but I definitely went back, I looked at last years game, I looked at my notes from last year and I can definitely use that as a tool moving forward, Osweiler said.Here are some other things to look for on Thursday:TRAINERS ROOM: Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski began the week still limited by a hamstring injury that kept him sidelined for the first two games. He said after Tuesdays practice that he felt decent and hopes to play. Just trying to do everything I can right now to be as healthy as I can be, he said. LB Donta Hightower (knee), who sat out last weeks win, was also inching closer to getting back on the field with his return to practice this week.GETTING DEFENSIVE: Whomever the Patriots put at quarterback, he will face a defense that ranks in the top 10 in seven categories. Houstons defense hasnt allowed a touchdown in six consecutive quarters.WATT WARMING UP: Last years NFL Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt isnt quite back to full form after July surgery to repair a herniated disk in his back. But after getting 1 + sacks and recovering a fumble last week, the defensive end knows hes getting close. Its just a continuous process of getting myself back and even better, he said. The goal is to be better than before. I dont want to just be as good as I was before. I want to be better. Its a process of making sure that I do everything I can to get there.Watt, who led the NFL with 17 + sacks last year, has 76 in his career.FULLERS FAST START: Houston receiver Will Fuller has a chance to make NFL history on Sunday. The 21st overall pick in this years draft needs one more 100-yard receiving game to become the first player to start his career with three straight such games. Pro Bowl receiver DeAndre Hopkins also finished with more than 100 yards receiving last week to give the Texans two 100-yard receivers in the same game for the first time since 2013. Fuller was drafted to take some pressure off Hopkins, and so far hes filled that role perfectly. However, Hopkins isnt quite ready to heap praise on the rookie. He has a lot to improve on, thats for sure, Hopkins said.THURSDAY FOOTBALL: Belichick is 10-2 in Thursday games, including 9-2 as coach of the Patriots. Houston is just 2-5 in Thursday games. It marks the first Thursday the Texans are playing on the road since 2013.---AP Sports Writer Kristie Rieken in Houston contributed to this report.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL---Follow Kyle Hightower on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/khightowerFake Yeezy China . DAmigo scored twice in regulation and added the shootout winner as the Toronto Marlies edged the San Antonio Rampage 5-4 in American Hockey League action. Fake Yeezy Online . Louis Rams wide receiver Stedman Bailey last Sunday. The fine is the fourth this season for Goldson. He was fined $30,000 for a hit on the New York Jets Jeff Cumberland in Week 1. https://www.yeezychina.us/ . "Four now," Carl Gunnarsson told the Leaf Report proudly following a 5-2 victory over New York on Tuesday night, the clubs fifth straight at home. Clearance Yeezy For Sale .com) - Manchester City midfielder David Silva is expected to miss the next four weeks because of a calf problem. Wholesale Yeezy ChinaANN ARBOR, Mich. -- There would be no easing into the season opener for Michigan. The Wolverines were held scoreless for over five minutes at the beginning of their game against Howard.Ive been coaching a long time, and what Howard did defensively, was something, I dont recall seeing it, actually, Michigan coach John Beilein said. Its an aggressive matchup zone, and theyre taking things away, and theyre really flying around with great quickness.The Wolverines eventually overcame that tough defense. Derrick Walton scored 14 of his 20 points in the first half, and Michigan fought through a poor shooting night to beat Howard 76-58 on Friday.The Wolverines ended up shooting just 42 percent from the field. The Bison trailed 41-36 with under 12 minutes remaining in the game before Michigan asserted itself.Mark Donnal scored 12 points for Michigan, and Zak Irvin added 11.Damon Collins scored 12 points for Howard, which was without guard James Daniel, the nations leading scorer last season. He is expected to miss about another month with a high ankle sprain.Free throws helped boost Michigans margin in a foul-filled game. The Wolverines went 23 of 26 from the line, while Howard was just 14 of 29.Were so used to Daniel making that play for us, Howard coach Kevin Nickelberry said. Hes an 80 percent free-throw shooter. He makes big 3s. ... Weve got to get used to, those moments are not just his moments anymore. For six or seven games, its their moments.Michigans scoreless stretch to open the game was finally broken when Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman made a couple 3-pointers. The Wolverines led 34-25 at halftime.It was 41-36 whenn Howards Solomon Mangham missed two free throws.ddddddddddddIrvin made a jumper at the other end, and Michigan slowly began extending the lead. It was 49-38 after a 3-pointer by Irvin.BIG PICTUREHoward: The Bison were picked to win the MEAC in a preseason poll of coaches and sports information directors, and they did a good job staying in the game against Michigan despite Daniels absence.Michigan: It wasnt the prettiest game, but perhaps thats not the worst thing for the Wolverines, who are trying to improve their defense this season and show they can grind out wins even when their offense isnt clicking.ENERGYDonnal had six rebounds to go along with his dozen points, and fellow backup D.J. Wilson had nine points and eight rebounds.Thats our job, is be energy guys off the bench, Donnal said. D.J. did a good job of getting a few offensive rebounds and keeping a lot of plays alive.NEW ADDITIONSMichigan announced the signing of guard Eli Brooks (Spring Grove, Pennsylvania), forward Isaiah Livers (Kalamazoo, Michigan) and guard Jordan Poole (Milwaukee) to letters of intent for 2017-18.UP NEXTHoward: The Bison take on Marquette on Monday night in Milwaukee. That game -- along with the Howard-Michigan game -- is part of the 2K Classic, which benefits Wounded Warrior Project.Michigan: The Wolverines host IUPUI on Sunday in another 2K Classic game.---For more college basketball: http://collegebasketball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25---Follow Noah Trister at www.Twitter.com/noahtrister ' ' '