FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Tom Brady sat out his second straight preseason game while the quarterback who will replace him to start the regular season continued to make progress Thursday night.

Brady did not go through warm-ups and never made it to the field for the New England Patriots’ 23-22 victory against the Chicago Bears.

Brady had been expected to make his debut after missing last week’s game to attend memorial services for a family member. But according to a report from Comcast SportsNet New England, Brady cut himself with a pair of scissors while attempting to pry something from the bottom of his cleats before the game.

Not only didn’t Brady start or play, he was sent home from Gillette Stadium.

Jimmy Garoppolo will start the first four games of the regular season while Brady serves his Deflategate suspension and made the most of the extra playing time.

He threaded a 16-yard touchdown pass in the back of the end zone to A.J. Derby late in the first half for his first TD pass of the preseason. He played the entire first half and one series in the second, finishing 16 of 21 for 181 yards.

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Jay Cutler and Chicago’s offense started the game with a lot more pep following an anemic effort in the exhibition opener last week.

The Bears gained 78 yards in the first half of a 22-0 loss to Denver last week. Chicago gained 59 yards in its first drive Thursday and passed last week’s total on its second possession.

Cutler played three series, completing 8 of 12 passes for 83 yards.

Jeremy Langford also had a nice game for the Bears, rushing eight times for 55 yards and a touchdown.

The Patriots are away for their final two preseason games, so Thursday marked Brady’s last opportunity to play in Foxborough until at least Oct. 16. His four-game suspension ends Oct. 3, but New England plays at Cleveland on Oct. 9 in what is expected to be Brady’s regular-season debut.

ROOKIE WATCH

Patriots cornerback Cyrus Jones continues to make a case for playing time in an already stacked secondary. He came away with his second turnover in two weeks, this time stepping in front of Bears backup quarterback Brian Hoyer’s first pass for an interception in the second quarter. He had a fumble recovery last week.

POSITION BATTLES

Patriots tight end A.J. Derby may have put some distance between himself, Bear Pascoe and Clay Harbor in the competition for the third tight end spot. Derby was all over the field, catching six passes for 71 yards and a touchdown. Wide receiver Chris Hogan, an offseason free-agent pickup, took off his noncontact jersey this week during practice and had a solid debut for the Patriots. He had four catches for 53 yards.


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