Some quarterbacks may balk at the thought of being a backup. For Jarrett Stidham, it is quite the opposite. Heading into his second year as a member of the New England Patriots, Stidham is focused on the task at hand.
Stidham saw limited action last year. The one game where he saw any action was on September 22 against the New York Jets. He completed two of four passes for 14 yards and an interception. An 11-yard pass was his longest of the afternoon.
Now, Stidham will enter his second year looking to make as much of an impact as possible. Although he indicated to the media that Tom Brady’s future was not at the forefront of his mind, you would think it has to be. After all, the stars are aligning for him to take over once Brady retires. As he told Mike Reiss of ESPN.com, he is only focusing on the immediate future.
“Right now, I can’t really think too much about all of that. I have to worry about what I need to do to prepare to enhance my game, to learn as much as I possibly can,” Stidham told ESPN. “That’s the biggest thing I’ve focused on, making a big stride from Year 1 to Year 2.”
With how complex the Patriots’ playbook is, and the baggage of filling Brady shoes once he retires or departs in free agency, there is a lot on Stidham’s plate. One has to wonder how much he will see the field next season. Whether Tom Brady comes back or not, Stidham should get a fair amount of work in the preseason.
With Brady’s future in question, Stidham could be a major factor for New England’s plans going forward. Although he says he’s not thinking about it too much, it’s likely in the back of his mind. His future relies on the status of Brady.
