Story by
Broncos players have ‘full faith’ in Jarrett Stidham ahead of AFC Championship
- Story by
- Broncos players have ‘full faith’ in Jarrett Stidham ahead of AFC Championship
When Jarrett Stidham takes his first snap during the AFC Championship, he will do somethingrelatively unprecedented.
The Denver Broncos backup quarterback flat-out has not started a game this season, and he hasn’t thrown a regular-season pass since 2023. But his teammates feel confident with their backup quarterback under center.
Advertisement
“Stiddy’s been waiting for this moment for the entirety of his career,” offensive tackle Mike McGlinchey said, per ESPN . “He’s more prepared than anybody would be in this situation. And he can ball, he can flat-out play quarterback. We’ve seen it every day in practice. We’ve seen it in training camp.
“I have no doubts he’s going to go out there and play his butt off.”
Stidham will get the nod against his former team, the New England Patriots , Sunday after starting quarterback Bo Nix fractured his ankle in the final seconds of the Broncos ’ overtime win against the Buffalo Bills last weekend.
According to ESPN Research , Stidham will become one of just two players to enter a playoff start without any passing yards during the season since 1950.
Advertisement
“We have full faith in Stiddy,” Broncos defensive tackle Zach Allen said . “He’s like a second quarterback coach out there.”
Since the Patriots drafted Stidham in the fourth round of the 2019 draft, the 29-year-old has played in just 20 games, starting in four.
Patriots coachMike Vrabelsaid Monday that the team looked into Stidham during free agency. Stidham ultimately, however, re-signed with the Broncos.
Stidham’s current teammates’ confidence echoes that of his former teammates. Earlier this week, retired Patriot Devin McCourty also noted that Stidham is “what every team wants in a backup quarterback.”
Advertisement
“He’s a smart guy, very similar to how (Brian) Hoyer was. He knows everything, where everyone’s supposed to go. The guys love him. I think that’s how it was when he was in New England .
“I think it’s obvious that’s what it is in Denver. It’s one of the first moves Sean Payton did, was sign Stidham back and keep him there. I think that speaks volumes.”
Read the original article on MassLive . Add MassLive as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
