Report: Tom Brady will play for Pats in Friday's game vs. Panthers

— -- Tom Brady will play in the New England Patriots' preseason game Friday night against the Carolina Panthers, according to a report by CSNNE.com.

Brady is making the trip to Carolina with the team, according to ESPN and multiple reports. It is unknown whether Brady or Jimmy Garoppolo will start at quarterback, according to the CSNNE.com report.

Garoppolo started the first two preseason games for the Pats, playing the entire first half against the Saints on Aug. 11 and through the first series of the third quarter against the Bears on Aug. 18.

In all, he has played 84 snaps, and rookie Jacoby Brissett has played 54.

Brady has yet to play in the preseason. Since he became the starter in the 2001 season, there has been just one preseason in which he hasn't played a game, in 2008.

Brady will serve a four-game suspension to begin the regular season as the team turns to Garoppolo as its starter. This will mark the first season since 2001 that a quarterback other than Brady starts the regular-season opener for the Patriots.