You could be in your seat at Gillette Stadium Thursday night by the time Bill Belichick announces injured quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo’s status — officially listed as doubtful on the team’s injury report — for the game against the Texans.

Belichick said Garoppolo, who sprained the AC joint in his throwing shoulder Sunday, could be a game-time decision (announced 90 minutes before kickoff) during a radio interview Wednesday.

“It might be as early as this afternoon, it might be as late as when we turn in the inactives tomorrow night,’’ Belichick said on 98.5 The Sports Hub. “We’ll just have to see how it all comes together. Any time you have a short week like this, you always have a few players that are banged up and working their way back. Where exactly they’ll be on game time Thursday night, a lot of times you don’t know until Thursday night.’’

Garoppolo was limited in practice Tuesday though he was not seen during the portion open to media. If the Patriots practiced Monday (they didn’t), Garoppolo wouldn’t have participated, according to the team’s theoretical injury report.

If Garoppolo is inactive Thursday, that leaves wide receiver Julian Edelman as the emergency quarterback. Edelman has prepared all week to be the backup option, NFL Network reported, though Belichick wouldn’t acknowledge as much.

Texans coach Bill O’Brien knows Edelman played quarterback in college, understands the Patriots offense, and has served as a scout-team quarterback in practice many times. He’s prepared his team with those factors in mind.

“I think we have to be ready for their roster, you know what I mean? We have to understand the skill sets of the players on their roster,’’ O’Brien said. “Obviously with Julian, I was there when they drafted him. He was a shotgun, wildcat quarterback at Kent State and really good at it. I can remember doing some of things with him over the couple years that I was with him in practice there. I know that he can do that.’’

Questionable

Linebacker Dont’a Hightower also wouldn’t have participated if the Patriots had practiced Monday, but his return Tuesday on a limited basis was a good sign for the team.

Hightower was inactive Sunday with a knee injury. He declined to speak with reporters this week and his teammates did not say whether he would play Thursday.

Hightower was one of six Patriots listed as questionable, along with tight end Rob Gronkowski (hamstring), guard Jonathan Cooper (foot), defensive lineman Trey Flowers (shoulder), cornerback Eric Rowe (ankle), and linebacker Jonathan Freeny (shoulder).

“He’s a good player, big part of our defense. We’d love to have him back out there as soon as possible but you know, if he’s out there, he’s out there, if he’s not, he’s not. We’ll be ready to go,’’ cornerback Malcolm Butler said of Hightower.

Hightower brought pressure from the edge and occasionally blitzed up the middle against Arizona in Week 1. If Hightower is healthy, the Patriots would regain their regular signal-caller on defense.

No ‘Pot’ shots

Terrance “Pot Roast’’ Knighton spoke about his brief time with the Patriots on the Fox Sports NFL Analyst’s podcast. Knighton, who was signed by the Patriots during the offseason but didn’t make the roster, called Jacoby Brissett “fearless’’ and said he knew from the offseason the Patriots had been preparing the rookie to be able to step in for Garoppolo if necessary. Knighton also talked about playing for Belichick. His take was pretty much what you’d expect, but still funny. “Bill is just straight football. I used to see him in the weight room, he’s on the treadmill watching film. You see him in the sauna, he’s watching film. Everything’s about football, football, football. And when you do step away from football, he’s a great guy, he’s laughing, joking just like any other guy, but when it’s time to work, it’s all about football,’’ Knighton said.

“We used to play this game in the locker room, we’re shooting threes, playing basketball in the locker room with a trash can, Bill would shoot a couple jump shots, even though they were terrible, it was fun. He’s a great dude, man, and on the outside looking in you would think he’s like a straight dictator, straight mean, just one way, but he’s not. He’s a great guy, it’s just when it’s about football, there’s no joking about that’’ . . . The Colts signed wide receiver Devin Street off the Patriots practice squad, opening a spot that potentially could be filled by a quarterback.

Nora Princiotti can be reached at nora.princiotti@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter at @NoraPrinciotti.