Jarrett Stidham set to begin AFC Championship after Bo Nix damage

Jarrett Stidham, step proper up. 

The Broncos quarterback is now in line to begin within the AFC Championship subsequent Sunday after starter Bo Nix suffered a fracture in his proper ankle throughout Denver’s time beyond regulation win in opposition to the Buffalo Payments within the divisional spherical. Nix’s damage would require surgical procedure and sideline him for the remainder of the season, which means it’s going to be as much as Stidham to assist Denver advance to Tremendous Bowl LX and probably hoist its first Lombardi Trophy in a decade. 

That is a mighty tall order for the 29-year-old, who has simply 4 profession begins beneath his belt. Stidham’s final regular-season cross within the NFL got here all the way in which again in Week 18 of the 2023 marketing campaign. Now, he’ll be entrusted with a group that earned the No. 1 seed within the convention and boasts one of many prime defenses within the league. Nevertheless, that will not imply something if Stidham cannot reply the bell, however there does look like inner confidence within the veteran quarterback. 

Six wild QB choices for Broncos after stunning Bo Nix damage: Tom Brady cannot play, however two different MVPs may

John Breech

“I’d say this, in equity to what you’ve got seen, which may be very restricted: He is prepared,” head coach Sean Payton advised reporters of Stidham, by way of the official group web site. “He is prepared. I mentioned this in the beginning of the season, I really feel like I’ve bought a [No. 2 quarterback] that is able to beginning for quite a few groups, and I do know he feels the identical means. Be careful. Simply watch. He is skilled, he is performed in video games. They’re completely different sort gamers to a point.”

As Payton references, we have had a restricted view of Stidham all through his profession and tenure with the Broncos, so let’s get accustomed to the sign caller who is ready to steer Denver into the AFC Championship. 

⭐️ 5-star recruit getting into faculty

Stidham was a extremely regarded prospect popping out of highschool (Stephenville, Texas), with 247Sports rating him as a five-star recruit and the No. 1-ranked dual-threat quarterback in 2015 — forward of Kyler Murray (No. 2), Sam Darnold (No. 6), Joe Burrow (No. 7), and Lamar Jackson (No. 9). 

Stidham was an early Texas Tech commit, however decommitted from the Crimson Raiders following Patrick Mahomes’ freshman season in Lubbock, wherein it was clear Mahomes can be a begin QB for then-coach Kliff Kinsburgy. Stidham flipped his dedication to Baylor, which had emerged as as Texas powerhouse in the course of the early a part of the last decade, and bought his ft fet. After starting the 12 months because the backup, an damage atop the depth chart noticed Stidham ascend because the Bears‘ starter. In his first begin in opposition to Kansas State, he tossed for 419 yards and had 4 whole touchdowns. 

After the dismissal of head coach Artwork Briles, Stidham transferred to McClellan Junior Faculty, the place he sat out the season and maintained eligibility, then transferred to Auburn. the place he went on to be named second-team All-SEC in 2017. That 12 months, he led the Tigers to wins in opposition to No. 1-ranked Georgia and No. 1-ranked Alabama. Stidham’s second season at Auburn was not as productive as the primary, and he determined to forgo his last 12 months of eligibility to declare for the 2019 NFL Draft. 

Drafted by Patriots, eyed as potential Tom Brady successor

With the 133rd total decide within the 2019 NFL Draft, New England chosen Stidham, who then discovered himself because the No. 2 on the depth chart behind Tom Brady. 

His first style of NFL motion was a forgettable expertise, nonetheless. In Week 3, he got here in for Brady within the fourth quarter of a blowout win over the New York Jets. After coming in, Stidham threw a pick-6 to Jamal Adams, which led to Brady coming again into the competition to complete the sport. 

That was probably the most motion Stidham noticed over his rookie season. His sophomore marketing campaign, nonetheless, did present some intrigue, significantly within the aftermath of Brady leaving the Patriots after the 2019 season for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. 

Stidham was checked out as a doable in-house choice to succeed Brady, as New England didn’t add a clear-cut choice at quarterback within the early phases of free company (exterior of a reunion with veteran Brian Hoyer) or on the 2020 NFL Draft. Whereas it momentarily appeared Stidham could possibly be an choice for the Patriots because the franchise started the post-Brady period, these plans modified later that summer time when the membership signed Cam Newton. The previous NFL MVP received the beginning job, and Stidham misplaced out on the second-string job to Hoyer, demoting him to QB3. 

Stidham got here in at numerous factors all year long, together with a Week 4 matchup with the Chiefs after Newton was sidelined resulting from COVID-19 protocol, and Hoyer struggled in the course of the contest. He threw his first profession landing within the dropping effort, but additionally had two interceptions. 

Regardless of New England’s struggles all year long, Invoice Belichick by no means gave Stidham a glance as a starter. 

The next 12 months, the Patriots drafted Mac Jones, and Hoyer remained because the backup, with Stidham not seeing the sphere in any respect in the course of the 2021 season. 

Pats commerce Stidham to Las Vegas

New England ended up buying and selling Stidham to the Las Vegas Raiders in Might of 2022 in what was primarily a swap of Day 3 draft picks in 2023. That deal noticed Stidham reunite with Josh McDaniels, who was employed because the Raiders head coach that offseason after serving because the Patriots offensive coordinator when he entered the league. Stidham started the 12 months as a backup to Derek Carr, however he did get a glance because the membership’s starter on the finish of the season, beginning each Week 17 and Week 18 for Las Vegas. 

The membership went 0-2, however Stidham’s numbers weren’t horrible, finishing 64.3% of his passes, tossing 4 touchdowns and three interceptions, registering a 91.6 passer ranking, and averaging 292 yards by the air. 

Joins Broncos, begins after Russell Wilson benching

In 2023, Stidham signed a two-year, $10 million cope with the Broncos, who had simply acquired head coach Sean Payton in a commerce with the New Orleans Saints. In an identical scenario to the one he discovered himself within the 12 months prior with the Raiders, Stidham turned Denver’s starter on the finish of the season after the Broncos benched Russell Wilson. Stidham went 1-1 over these begins in Week 17 and Week 18 of the 2023 marketing campaign, and once more put up serviceable numbers. He accomplished 60.6% of his passes, averaged 248 passing yards per recreation, had two touchdowns and one interception, and registered an 87.7 passer ranking. 

That Week 18 recreation in opposition to the Raiders was the final time Stidham had thrown a significant cross within the NFL, till he drops again subsequent Sunday within the AFC Championship. In that recreation particularly, he was 20 of 34 for 272 yards, a landing, and an interception. He was additionally sacked 5 occasions in that contest. 

Is Stidham able to main Denver to Tremendous Bowl LX?

In a season as upside-down because the 2025 marketing campaign, the place quarterbacks like Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow, and Lamar Jackson had been nowhere to be discovered this postseason, and a 44-year-old Philip Rivers got here out of retirement to affix the Colts, something’s doable, proper? That mentioned, this does really feel like nearly too massive a hurdle to beat for Stidham and the Broncos.

Earlier than we spotlight how issues may go mistaken, nonetheless, let’s bullet some key components that do fall in Denver’s favor as they put together for Stidham to begin within the AFC Championship.

1. The AFC Championship is at house at Mile Excessive. Stidham will not have so as to add enjoying in a highway surroundings to his plate. In the meantime, their opponent may have the elevation as one other adversary, and that did appear to impression the Payments. 
2. Stidham is accustomed to the system. Stidham has been with the Broncos since 2023, which ought to make him well-versed in what Sean Payton asks of quarterbacks, albeit with no ton of beginning expertise.
3. Stidham has began earlier than. As we famous, Stidham would not have plenty of beginning expertise (4 begins), but it surely’s not zero, and that features two begins with Payton’s Broncos. He is not a rookie coming into this recreation 100% chilly, which has to rely for one thing. Stidham has additionally flashed a bit when given these alternatives.
4. Broncos OL has protected properly. In the course of the common season with Nix beneath middle, the Broncos’ offensive line allowed simply 23 sacks, which was tied for the fewest within the NFL. Their 32.6% strain fee allowed was additionally the fifth-lowest within the league, so Stidham ought to have a while to throw the soccer. 
5. Denver’s protection, in principle, may carry Stidham. In a great world, the Broncos take a web page out of the Seahawks‘ guide from their divisional spherical win over the 49ers. In that win, they did not ask Sam Darnold (who was coping with an indirect damage) to do a lot, and tried simply 17 passes within the win. Denver would love a recreation script the place the protection — which ranked prime three in factors per recreation (18.3), yards per recreation (278.2), and third down proportion (33.8%) this season — controls the sport, and solely wants Stidham to make a few crucial throws. 

Okay, that is the glass-half-full facet of the equation. The opposite — probably extra real looking — facet of issues paints a grim image. First off, turnovers may show to be an issue for Stidham within the AFC Championship. He is tossed at the least one interception in all however one in all his 4 begins, and his groups are 1-3 in these contests.

Whereas there have already been some parallels drawn to Nick Foles main the Philadelphia Eagles to a Tremendous Bowl LII title after Carson Wentz bought harm in 2017 by these attempting to carry onto a sliver of hope, it is onerous to make that connection. Foles had 36 begins earlier than becoming a member of the Eagles throughout that 2017 season, which included a Professional Bowl marketing campaign in 2013. Stidham would not have wherever close to that very same pedigree. 

Stidham would be the seventh quarterback to make his first profession begin of the season within the playoffs. Frank Reich is the one one of many prior six to steer his group to a win. He is additionally the primary quarterback to make his first begin within the convention championship since Roger Staubach in 1972. 

What Stidham is trying to do is actually unprecedented, and might want to defy historical past if he desires to get Denver over the hump with an AFC Championship win and a visit to Tremendous Bowl LX.