New England Patriots: 3 Standouts from Preseason Week 3 vs. Panthers
2. Jarrett Stidham, QB
Unfortunately for quarterback Brian Hoyer, Jarrett Stidham being on this current roster likely leaves Hoyer on the outskirts of the final cut. The rookie has been the star of the preseason in New England (besides Jakobi Meyers), making all the throws and showing he has the capabilities of being a starter someday.
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Now people will automatically think to be the heir apparent to Tom Brady and it is far too early to tell, but Stidham has the signs of being exactly that. Against Carolina, he went 15-of-19 for 134 yards. While his main problem has been holding the ball too long, his throws mirror NFL-level ones that are excellent. Stidham has yet to throw an interception in the preseason, which will instantly have Bill Belichick as a fan.
His overall performance may not be the best of the three weeks, but replacing Brian Hoyer and having the veteran not see any game time leaves Stidham’s overall performance as the trump card. Hoyer has been a good backup for some time now, but Stidham has a bright future and has shown he can take over an offense in the worst possible situations.
Continuous performances by Stidham that are mistake-free are on Thursday and throughout the preseason have served the quarterback well. He and Michel are two guys in the forefront of Patriots fans’ minds.