FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- In a sign that injured New England Patriots quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo could be active for Thursday nights home game against the Houston Texans, he was a limited participant in practice Tuesday, just two days after spraining the AC joint in his right throwing shoulder.Garoppolo was not present at the start of practice when reporters were present, so it appears the Patriots had him take the field after media members departed.Meanwhile, the club had free-agent quarterbacks T.J. Yates and Sean Renfree in for workouts, according to ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter, but did not make a move with either of them.That could be another indication that Garoppolos chances to be active for Thursdays game between the 2-0 Patriots and 2-0 Texans are rising.On Monday, offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels said the teams approach would be contingent on how things progressed with Garoppolo.Im sure if he cant play or back up, then well be going through that process [of considering replacements], McDaniels said on sports radio WEEI. Its a short week [of preparation], were going to have to work hard to get somebody ready to go in case that does happen.Early Tuesday morning, ESPN NFL Insider Ed Werder reported that the Patriots still believed there was a chance Garoppolo could tolerate the pain of the AC joint sprain.Later Tuesday morning, head coach Bill Belichick shed little light on the teams thinking, as his news conference turned testy at times as he deflected several questions on the topic.Im a football coach; Im not a doctor, Belichick said when asked how he juggles some uncertainty with Garoppolos health and roster decisions. The medical staff is the medical staff. I coach the team; the medical people handle the injuries. They dont call plays. I dont do surgeries. We have a great deal there. It works out good.Peppered with questions about Garoppolo, Belichick began to lose patience with one reporter.A players personal situation, his health, always comes first. Thats not a football decision; thats a medical decision, he said. Football decisions are based on whats best for the football team. Thats what weve always done around here, and thats what well always do as long as Im here. It will never change. Well always do whats best for the football team. Thats what its all driven by.Later, Belichick added: Let me put it a different way -- Im the coach, I do whats best for the football team. I dont know why we cant understand that.Speaking in general terms, Belichick didnt rule out the possibility that a quarterback could be a game-time decision.Also Tuesday, tight end Rob Gronkowski, who has missed the first two games as he tries to overcome a hamstring injury suffered in August, showed up for practice in full pads. He explained that he wanted to get a feel for the pads, which he hasnt worn for some time, but that he later had to remove them.Gronkowski was a limited participant. In addition, linebacker Donta Hightower was limited in practice Tuesday after missing all last week and Sundays game with a knee injury. He wore a brace over his right knee.As for the two quarterbacks the Patriots worked out Tuesday, it marked Renfrees second workout with the club over the past month.Meanwhile, Yates agent, Brian Ayrault, announced on Aug. 30 that Yates has been cleared to return to football activities after tearing his ACL last December. Yates suffered a torn ACL last December when the Houston Texans played the Indianapolis Colts in Week 15.Dallas Stars Store . There are some early surprises in the race for the Hart Trophy, but two of the contenders are the leagues biggest stars over the past decade. There are many more players in contention for the awards than just the three that Ive named, and a good or bad week can easily alter the landscape, but through the first 20 or so games of the NHL season, this is how the awards races look to me. Stitched Stars Jerseys ., for the next three years with the signings on Monday of Daryl Townsend and Michael Carter. https://www.cheapstarsonline.com/ . Argentina winger Ezequiel Lavezzi and France midfielder Blaise Matuidi scored, with star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic setting up both despite having a poor game by his high standards. Forward Eduardo gave Ajaccio the lead in the sixth minute after being set up by right winger Benjamin Andre, and the Corsican side looked comfortable in the first half, with the lively Johan Cavalli causing problems with his probing runs from midfield. Fake Stars Jerseys . -- If Henry Burris has his way, he will be the starting quarterback to lead the Hamilton Tiger-Cats back to the Grey Cup next year. Cheap Stars Jerseys . Ivanovic was leading 7-5, 1-0 when Hantuchova withdrew after falling 0-40 behind in the second game. The match started slowly for Ivanovic, who surrendered her first two serves as Hantuchova took a 5-3 lead.The Washington Mystics had an easy time beating the San Antonio Stars last week in Washington.Perhaps things will be different when the teams meet Wednesday night in San Antonio -- but probably not, if the Stars are without their leading scorer.Guard Kayla McBride, who leads the Stars at 17.1 points per game, was helped off the court in the third quarter of Saturdays game at Minnesota after suffering what was diagnosed as a sprained right foot, the team announced Tuesday afternoon. Her status was listed as day to day.In last weeks meeting, the Stars scored the first two points of the game, but the Mystics then went on an 18-0 run. Washington held San Antonio to a season low for points in a quarter (seven) and eventually pushed the lead to 30 in the second half before taking an 84-67 victory.The energy level was especially pleasing to Washington coach Mike Thibault.Thats been our biggest focus -- that we play harder than who were playing against and that we play with high energy and try to get people on their heels, Thibault said after the win. If you do that, you give yourself a chance every night.Washington (99-9) started a five-game trip with an 86-84 loss at the Chicago Sky on Friday night.dddddddddddd San Antonio (4-13) is coming off a 91-68 loss to Minnesota.Generating offense has been San Antonios foremost problem. The Stars average a league-low 74.2 points per game and are last in field goal shooting percentage (40.6).None of their starters in last weeks loss at Washington scored in double figures. Those five combined to make 8 of 28 shots from the field.Rookie guard Moriah Jefferson is second on the team in scoring behind McBride, averaging 10.8 points to go with 4.1 assists per game.For Washington, guard Tayler Hill averages a team-high 15.7 points, with forward Emma Meesseman posting averages of 14.9 points and 5.6 rebounds.Despite the loss at Chicago, Washington has bounced back nicely from a 2-6 start.That was not looking very good at the start, Thibault said. We maintained that once we got healthy and everyone got a chance to get a little rhythm together, we would get better. ' ' '