Denver Broncos QB Jarrett Stidham Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Broncos QB Jarrett Stidham impresses Sean Payton with 'really hot' preseason finale

By Trevor Woods | Last updated 8/27/23

Quarterback Jarrett Stidham's in his first season with the Denver Broncos, and what Stidham did in the Broncos 41-0 dismantling of the Los Angeles Rams is worth praise.

Not only did Stidham have a great night on the stat sheet going 17-of-28 for 276 yards and a touchdown, but he also earned the praise of head coach Sean Payton.

“I thought he did really well," Payton said. "He started off really hot. He took a shot on the one deep [pass] interference completion [and] bounced back. I thought he played well—made a lot of good decisions. I was encouraged.”

Stidham took numerous big hits throughout the night and his toughness was on full display, highlighted by a 50-yard touchdown pass to Marvin Mims.

.@Jarrett_Stidham, my oh my. On the first play of the drive, a 50-yard pass for the @Broncos QB.

: #LARvsDEN on NFL Network
: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/624TrfDUF6 pic.twitter.com/2r88q7BwFe
— NFL (@NFL) August 27, 2023

"If you have to stay in there and take some hits, that is part of it," Stidham said. "I am happy to do it.”

Payton has every right to be encouraged by Stidham, who looks like he's taken his game to the next level this preseason. While Stidham will be locked into the backup role behind Russell Wilson, his career is on an upward trajectory. Part of why Stidham came to Denver in the first place was to get better under the tutelage of Payton.

"His history in New Orleans and his history with quarterbacks and winning. I just want to win football games and that was a big reason for coming here," Stidham said.

It wouldn't be a shock if Stidham ends up starting some games for Denver this fall with the 34-year-old Wilson becoming increasingly injury-prone. Wilson had a multitude of injuries in 2022, including a shoulder injury and lat tear that required a plasma transfusion, a hamstring tear, a concussion and a knee injury which culminated with arthroscopic surgery this offseason.

Stidham has a coach in Payton that is known for coaching up quarterbacks and getting the best out of them and there's a chance their partnership lasts longer than the one between Payton and Wilson.

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