Jarrett Stidham has not thrown a pass in an NFL game since Jan. 7, 2024.
So when Patriots defensive tackle Milton Williams was asked what he knew about the Broncos quarterback, he gave an honest answer.
“Nothing. I ain’t gonna lie, nothing,” Williams said. “We’re going to watch the tape on him and figure out what he like to do. But no. They didn’t like him over Bo [Nix], so.”
Over his seven years in the NFL, Stidham has started just four games. Backing up Bo Nix this season, he played just four snaps (one kneel down) in a 44-24 blowout victory over the Cowboys in Week 8.
But with Nix suffering a fracture in his ankle in last weekend’s divisional round victory, Stidham will now be thrust into action against New England in the AFC Championship Game.
“He’s got the snaps that he has — the 400 or so snaps that are in regular season action. And then they have a lot of snaps on what they want to do. So, we’ll have to be prepared for the plan and the things that they’ve shown,” head coach Mike Vrabel said. “I’m sure there’ll be some things that they haven’t shown. He’s more than capable to go out there and operate. It’s why he’s a backup, and one that was coveted around the league.”
With minimal film available, Vrabel added the staff is using every resource available to them in its preparation. That includes intel from offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, who originally coached Stidham in New England before trading for him in Las Vegas.
“Anything that we have that we can use to help us, we’ll try,” Vrabel explained.
As the Patriots continue their preparation for Stidham and the Broncos offense, they will not take him lightly — especially with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line.
“Man, it’s the playoffs,” Williams said. “To be an NFL quarterback, them boys, they are going to rally around him just like they did around Bo. We still have to be ready for the challenge.”
“I think he can make any throw he wants obviously with a great pocket. He’s got great mechanics and great release time,” fellow pass rusher K’Lavon Chaisson said. “He’s got good protection. You’ve got some All-Pro guys on that line of scrimmage. I think he can continue to be the driving force of the offense. We won’t take that for granted at all.”
