ENGLEWOOD, Colo — What does the majority of Broncos Country now about Jarrett Stidham?
Let’s put it this way. A fair portion of Broncos Country eventually asked: Who is Jarrett Stidham?
9NEWS drew big ratings for its three Broncos’ preseason game broadcasts in August but face it, NFL preseason isn’t for everybody.
But aside from playing exceptionally well in the final two preseason games against San Francisco and the Los Angeles Rams – combining to complete 29 of 45 for 336 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions – Stidham is a stranger to most Denver fans.
Know this: Broncos Country is not alone among NFL fans. Stidham is in his fifth season has just two mop-up starts. In the Broncos’ first 15 games this season, Stidham didn’t play in 14 of them. And the one he did, he didn’t throw a pass, finishing up a blowout loss at Detroit two weeks ago with four handoffs.
One person who feels he does know Stidham, though, is Broncos head coach Sean Payton.
He scouted via tape Stidham’s two starts for the Las Vegas Raiders at the end of last season and was impressed enough to authorize, along with general manager George Paton, a two-year, $10 million contract. Payton also liked the way Stidham handled himself in the preseason and as a backup during the regular season to give him a two-game audition.
“He’s a good decision-maker,’’ Payton said Wednesday in an interview with 9NEWS for the Broncos Huddle. “He’s real accurate. The other thing is he’s got for his size, he’s got good size (6-3, 215), but he’s got very good feet. For us we got to see him play in a regular season game (last year) against a good defense in San Francisco and then Kansas City. I think that really helped us when it came to making the decision to sign him.’’
Stidham played well against the 49ers, throwing for 365 yards and three touchdowns against two interceptions in a 37-34 defeat. He didn’t play as well the next week in a 31-13 loss to the Chiefs, but he still threw for 219 yards and a touchdown against the eventual Super Bowl champions.
For the first time during the regular season, Stidham stood Wednesday before the starting quarterback’s press conference podium.
“I think I can speak for just about anybody who plays in the NFL, your goal and objective is to always get out on the field and play,’’ Stidham said. “That’s what my goal has always been, I’ve always prepared myself. Sean brought me up in his office this morning and told me I’m going to start this week. Just keep preparing like I have been my whole career and get ready to go.”
Wilson did not meet with the media Wednesday. He did meet with Stidham.
“I can’t speak highly enough of Russ,’’ Stidham said. “Tremendous teammate, tremendous competitor. I’ve been extremely fortunate in my career to be around some incredible human beings and incredible quarterbacks. He obviously fits that category. Today has obviously been a tough day but we’ve had great interaction today.’’
Stidham is married with a daughter, Lennon Love. His father-in-law is Tad Brown, who is essentially the CEO of the NFL Washington Commanders, and he is the CEO of a sports group that owns the NBA Philadelphia 76ers and NHL New Jersey Devils.
Stidham began his college career at Baylor, where he met his wife Kennedy Brown, then transferred to Auburn, where he started and put up big numbers – combined 36 touchdown passes against just 11 interceptions -- as a junior and senior in 2017-18. A fourth-round draft pick of the New England Patriots, he has backed up quarterbacks Tom Brady, Cam Newton, Mac Jones, Jimmy Garoppolo and now Russell Wilson in his career.
Otherwise, we now know Stidham is smart enough to easily answer questions from the media without revealing too much. Asked about his starting situation being similar to the one he had last year with the Raiders, who benched Derek Carr for financial considerations, Stidham said: “It just goes back to preparing like I have been throughout my entire career. Nothing changes now that I’m a starter versus a backup last week.’’
Asked about giving the Broncos a spark, as Payton said he was seeking, Stidham said, “I don’t think I need to overthink it. Just do what I’m coached to do. We have a great staff. A great group of guys around me so I’m just going to do my job to the best of my ability, do the certain things I need to do each and every play and move the ball down the field and hopefully score a lot of points and get a win.”
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