Jarrett Stidham has quite a bit of history with the Patriots

FOXBOROUGH — Jarrett Stidham has not thrown a cross in an NFL regular-season recreation because the finish of the 2023 season, however the Patriots have loads of familiarity together with his recreation.

The Patriots drafted Stidham in 2019 and took one other take a look at him this previous offseason whereas contemplating choices for a backup to Drake Maye.

“I suppose it was sort of ironic talking together with his agent,” Patriots coach Mike Vrabel stated Monday. “Like, ‘Effectively, if you happen to don’t need your starter to get damage, signal Jarrett. That was earlier than [Saturday].”

Bo Nix, who has thrown all however 4 of the Broncos’ passes since being drafted within the first spherical in 2024, broke a bone in his ankle throughout Saturday’s overtime win against the Bills. Stidham will begin the AFC Championship recreation in opposition to the Patriots in his place.

The final time the Patriots made it this far within the playoffs, they received all of it, with Tom Brady at quarterback. New England drafted Stidham within the fourth spherical in 2019, two months after successful Tremendous Bowl LIII, and there was discuss of him being a possible successor to Brady.

However Stidham spent the 2020 season as a third-stringer behind Cam Newton and Brian Hoyer, after Brady left for Tampa Bay. Josh McDaniels was the Patriots’ offensive coordinator then, and after he took the Raiders’ head teaching job in 2022, Las Vegas acquired Stidham in a commerce with the Patriots.

With McDaniels again in New England this season, the Patriots did some offseason analysis on Stidham.

“Simply going again to when Josh had him and enjoying in opposition to that, I believe he sees issues rather well,” Vrabel stated. “I believe he’s athletic sufficient to increase, like we discuss numerous quarterbacks. The accuracy, I believe the decision-making — he’s actually decisive within the video games that we went again and watched, and that is even going again to once I was in Tennessee, as properly.”

Finally, the Patriots went in a unique path this season, signing Joshua Dobbs to be Maye’s backup. Vrabel was requested why the Patriots didn’t signal Stidham.

“It was a very long time in the past,” he stated. “I don’t actually recall.”

Hollins eligible to return

Patriots receiver Mack Hollins, who hasn’t performed because the Dec. 21 win in opposition to the Ravens, is eligible to return from injured reserve.

Hollins has missed the final 4 video games with an belly damage. He completed third on the crew in catches (46) and targets (65), with 550 receiving yards through the common season.

At 6 ft 4 inches, he is also the tallest and heaviest of the Patriots’ receivers. He performed 60 % of the offensive snaps through the common season, tops amongst Patriots receivers.

Vrabel didn’t say whether or not Hollins could be out there for observe this week.

“I can’t make certain proper now,” he stated. “We’re simply nonetheless working by means of all the pieces with a few of these guys that may very well be again. Josh Farmer may very well be eligible to return again, in addition to Mack. However these aren’t selections that we’ve made but.”

Rookie Woodson shines

Security Craig Woodson recorded his first playoff interception in Sunday’s victory over the Texans. He additionally recovered a fumble.

After the win, fellow security Jaylinn Hawkins noticed a bunch of reporters coming over for interviews. He pointed them in Woodson’s path, telling them to speak to the rookie first. This was a second that they had envisioned weeks in the past, and Hawkins wished Woodson to be acknowledged for his efforts.

“I virtually began crying. I used to be so joyful, man,” Hawkins stated. “We’ve been speaking about all of it 12 months, like man, you’re so due for a choose. It’s coming. And it simply got here on the proper second, particularly in a playoff recreation. For him to be a rookie and do what he’s doing is simply so particular. I’m pleased with [him].”

Vrabel praised Woodson’s consistency all through the season. The assist from teammates has been useful, Woodson stated.

“Simply trusting myself. Simply having confidence on the market,” he stated. “I believe it’s getting simpler with my teammates supporting me, so simply trusting the performs that I see and enhancing my tackling, and communication has gotten rather a lot higher.”