FOXBORO — When Jarrett Stidham throws his first cross in Sunday’s AFC Championship Recreation, it will likely be the primary he’s tried in any significant recreation since Week 18 of the 2023 season.
Zak Kuhr, who will spearhead the Patriots’ defensive effort in opposition to Stidham this Sunday, mentioned the quarterback’s years-long layoff was extra the results of scenario than expertise.
New England’s interim defensive coordinator on Thursday referred to as Stidham a starting-caliber quarterback able to being QB1 for a number of NFL franchises.
“I don’t know if it’s a lot the problem of that he hasn’t performed shortly, extra than simply the entire workforce as a problem,” Kuhr mentioned. “He’s very able to being a beginning quarterback. He may very well be the starter for numerous groups. Very gifted, athletic, good. He can run higher than what most individuals assume. Robust arm, very correct. You watch this movie. However I don’t assume it brings some added stage of problem so far as making ready for it.”
Stidham has spent his total professional profession as a backup, nonetheless, first with the Patriots, who drafted him within the fourth spherical in 2019, then with Josh McDaniels’ Las Vegas Raiders, who acquired him earlier than the 2022 season. The Broncos signed him in 2023, then re-signed him final offseason, paying him $12 million over two years to be second-year professional Bo Nix’s understudy.
Nix suffered a season-ending damaged ankle on the ultimate drive of Denver’s divisional-round win over Buffalo, thrusting Stidham — whose solely snap this common season was a Week 8 kneeldown — into the highest spot for the AFC title recreation. It is going to be the fifth begin of Stidham’s profession and his first within the postseason.
Simply six present Patriots gamers overlapped with Stidham in Foxboro, however one member of New England’s teaching employees is aware of him nicely: McDaniels, who labored with the 29-year-old signal-caller throughout his stints with the Patriots and Raiders.
“Sensible. Correct. Nice human being,” New England’s offensive coordinator mentioned. “Labored arduous, nice teammate, simply hadn’t had the alternatives primarily based on the conditions and people kind of issues. However I simply loved working with him, loved my time with him, and I’m certain he’ll be able to go this week, for certain.”
