ENGLEWOOD, Colo — Russell Wilson has regained his remarkable durability, as Denver Broncos backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham well knows.
“He has,’’ Stidham said Friday at his locker. “He does a great job taking care of his body. Doing the little things right where he needs to.”
Wilson played in 165 out of 165 games (counting the postseason) through his first 9 NFL seasons and five games into his 10th season with the Seattle Seahawks. A damaged finger on his throwing hand that required immediate surgery caused him to miss three games in 2021. He then missed two games with the Broncos last year -- one because of a strained hamstring, the other because of a concussion.
But Wilson played in the final three games last season and will make his 15th start in 15 games this season on Sunday night against Stidham’s former New England Patriots. A remarkable feat of strength considering Wilson has been sacked 40 times through 14 games this year – the 10th time in his 12-year career he has been sacked at least 40 times.
So while the Broncos are scheduled to finish up playing against three backup quarterbacks – the Patriots’ Bailey Zappe, the Chargers’ Easton Stick and the Raiders’ Aidan O’Connell – Stidham has received no such opportunity this season.
He did get his first playing time last Saturday in a 42-17 loss at Detroit. Stidham came in with 2:15 remaining and handed off four times – twice to Javonte Williams for 12 yards and twice to Samaje Perine for 14 yards – to mercifully run out the clock. Until those mop-up carries, the Broncos had only rushed for 57 yards on 24 carries.
“I mean it was good to be back on the field for a couple plays,’’ Stidham said. “First time this year so it was good. I’ll take what I can get.”
His first pass attempt this season awaits. If it comes at all. Stidham keeps practicing and studying, just in case it comes.
“That’s pretty much the name of the game when you’re a backup,’’ he said. “It’s what I’ve had to do over the course of my career.”
Stidham was a fourth-round draft pick of the Patriots in 2019. He spent his rookie season backing up Tom Brady, his second year behind Cam Newton and missed most of 2021 because of offseason back surgery. When he did return, he was No. 3 to Mac Jones and Brian Hoyer.
Stidham followed New England offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels to Las Vegas last year, and after backing up Derek Carr most of the season, received the first two starts of his career to finish the Raiders’ season. He played well enough to impress Broncos head coach Sean Payton and draw a two-year, $10 million contract from the Broncos.
Brady, Newton, Jones, Carr and now Wilson. Does it get easier, or more difficult, to remain patient now that he’s in his fifth season?
“As you get older you learn more,’’ Stidham said. “When I was younger I didn’t know what I didn’t know. As you get older and start playing a little bit you’re ready to go whenever your number’s called. That’s how it is for me.”
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