The New England Patriots told Brian Hoyer he’d be in the mix for a starting role when they signed him and they’re appearing to hold that true.
New England shared a glimpse of the team’s first unpadded training camp practice and Hoyer took the first rep in a rollout drill. Second-year quarterback Jarrett Stidham took the second rep and Cam Newton took the third — followed by undrafted free agent Brian Lewerke.
Bill Belichick has’t revealed the Patriots’ starting quarterback yet and the team’s first game is on Sept. 13 against the Miami Dolphins at home. New England has a month to get their quarterback room in order and it won’t be an easy task for Newton to learn this playbook in such a short period of time.
Stidham appeared to be the first option the entire offseason before the Patriots signed Newton, but he quickly was dubbed the backup by the public. Newton, 31, is a former NFL MVP who has a gas in his tank still and a lot to prove. He carries a chip on his shoulder and would likely be the best option to take over for the departed Tom Brady.
Hoyer is on his third stint with the team and has the most knowledge of the playbook — making it less surprising that he’s starting off taking the first rep. He knows how the offense runs and the intricate details that Josh McDaniels is looking for during drills. Stidham has the second-most knowledge after playing last year under Brady, and Newton has a ton to learn.
With a month left until the season, the Patriots will exhaust all options at quarterback before making a decision. But, Newton will still likely claim the role by the start of the year.
