The Denver Broncos backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham had a poor showing by all metrics in Denver's 7-10 AFC Championship loss against the New England Patriots in the 2025 postseason. Despite a disastrous AFC Championship start, one Super Bowl champion still believes in Stidham.

The Denver Post's Sean Keeler recently interviewed T.J. Ward, where the former Broncos safety extended his support to Jarrett Stidham. He was asked whether "Stiddy" was still his guy to take over from starting QB Bo Nix if any unfortunate situation unfolds again.

"Yeah, I think so," T.J. Ward told Sean Keeler.

Bo Nix's fractured ankle in the 33-30 Divisional win against the Buffalo Bills forced Stidham into the AFC Championship game against New England.

Stidham had started only once in two seasons — the AFC Championship game against New England.

“I think (Stidham) had a tough go in there, but the elements (in the AFC Championship loss to New England) weren’t in his favor,” Ward noted, as per The Denver Post's Sean Keeler.

That day, the National Weather Service forecasts before the game called for 1-3 inches of new snow during the afternoon and evening with an 80% chance of snow.

The kickoff temperature for that game was 26 F, with a wind chill being 16 F towards the north (10 mph). The third and fourth quarters were hit by such heavy snowfall that the broadcast was barely visible to home viewers.

“You know, it was a tight game. The starting quarterback for the Patriots (Drake Maye) was second place in MVP voting and didn’t play well. So I think (Stidham) gets a little pass for that, coming in for his first start,” Ward further added.

Stidham completed only 17 out of the 31 passes he attempted for just 131 yards and only 1 TD against the Patriots. Meanwhile, the difficult weather troubled Maye as well. The Patriots quarterback only threw for 86 yards, with 0 touchdowns and 5 sacks.

Despite Ward backing Stidham for the QB2 role, other NFL analysts disagree.

Jarrett Stidham might lose his primary backup QB role soon

Just a few days away from training camp, an NFL analyst, Parker Gabriel, has claimed that QB Sam Ehlinger is well positioned to take over the primary backup responsibilities from Stidham.

"The notion that Ehlinger could beat him out is not rooted in Stidham’s performance in the AFC title game, but rather just in the staff’s excitement about Ehlinger a year ago, his mobility and a potential jump in performance in his second summer with the Broncos," The Denver Post's Parker Gabriel noted on July 18.

Stidham's four years in Denver give him familiarity with the front office and roster, an advantage Ehlinger lacks.

There is a strong chance that the player who loses in the QB2 battle is traded or picked up by a team in search of a backup ahead of the 2026 season kicking off, per Gabriel.

Last season, Ehlinger was released during final 53-man roster cutdowns at the end of the 2025 preseason but signed to the Broncos' practice squad. He served as the team's emergency QB3. Perhaps Stidham will be demoted to this role this season.

What do you think of Jarrett Stidham being the QB2 at the Denver Broncos? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by

Nisarga Aseem Barkule

Edited by

Kalp Thaker