Jarrett Stidham has had no shortage of NFL quarterbacks to learn from during his rookie season. The New England Patriots developmental quarterback is, of course, Tom Brady’s understudy. There’s enough to learn from Brady alone. But Stidham has also worked with former Patriots quarterback Brian Hoyer and, now, the Patriots have Cody Kessler.
Kessler joined the Patriots just days after Stidham took the field in a blowout win over the New York Jets in Week 3. He threw an interception on his third NFL pass for a pick-six, and Brady re-entered the game. Stidham was asked how he felt about the timing of Kessler’s arrival.
“It is what it is. I don’t feel any certain sort of way,” Stidham told Patriots Wire on Thursday. “I know my role. I know what I’m asked to do. I’m just going to continue to learn and do the best I can.”
Stidham said his role has gone unchanged, and the 23-year-old quarterback, who the Patriots drafted in the fourth round out of Auburn, seems to have found the silver lining in a more crowded quarterback room.
“(Kessler) has played a lot of ball. He has a really unique perspective. It’s been a lot of fun,” Stidham said. “Anything that I can help him out on. Obviously, he’s been learning a lot, just like I am. Anything that I can help him on — I’m trying to do the best I can in explaining it, hopefully, in the right way. But it’s been a great relationship.”
There’s some give and take. Stidham has six months in the Patriots system, but Kessler is in his fourth season in the NFL while playing in a handful of systems. Kessler, a 2016 third-round draft pick, has played for the Cleveland Browns, the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Philadelphia Eagles. He has played in 17 games and has started 12 with 2,215 passing yards, eight touchdowns, five interceptions and a 64.2 completion percentage.
Between Brady and Kessler, Stidham has found he’s got plenty of notes to take.
“Two completely different perspectives,” Stidham said. “I’m just trying to take it in from both of them.”
Coach Bill Belichick has a tough roster decision in the coming days. He doesn’t historically tend to carry three quarterbacks, and needs to cut a player to make room for tight end Ben Watson, who is returning from suspension in time for Week 5 action. But considering Stidham’s error in his debut, the Patriots may want to keep Kessler around.
“Cody’s done a nice job for us,” Belichick said Friday. “He’s really smart. He’s come in here — he’s learned. He’s out there calling plays, signaling receivers, making adjustments (at practice) like he’s been here longer than two weeks — or whatever it is. He’s picked up things quickly. He has a good rapport with all the players, and is willing to do whatever we ask him to do. He works really hard.”
