One of the lingering questions surrounding the New England Patriots is how backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo will perform if Tom Brady’s suspension keeps him off the field. In a Wednesday interview on Sirius XM NFL Radio, receiver Brandon LaFell shared his viewpoint on the topic. Brandon LaFell sees growth in Jimmy Garoppolo and believes the Patriots will rally around him. Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images “Jimmy has grown a lot since he first stepped foot up there in Foxborough last year,” he said. “He got a little experience during the later part of the season against Buffalo; he showed a little glimpse of what he can do. He’s been having a nice OTAs, a nice offseason with us. “I feel like studying behind Tom has been great for him. If we have to be without Tom for the first couple games, I’m pretty sure Tom will be in Jimmy’s ear helping him prepare each and every way he can to go out here and lead this team. I think we have a great group of guys around him that will kind of take the pressure off Jimmy so he won’t have to feel like he has to go out there and win the game himself with me, Gronk, Edelman, Scott Chandler, we have all great guys around here – LeGarrette Blount, Aaron Dobson — a few guys who can go out and make a lot of plays for him so he doesn’t feel like he has to go out there and win the game himself. Everybody just has to up their level of play to help out.”

Source: Mike Reiss of ESPN.com