No one really knew how Patriots rookie quarterback Jarrett Stidham would perform in his first real NFL game Thursday night against the Lions.
In practices, the fourth-round pick has shown a great arm that is tremendously accurate, but the biggest knock against him has been holding onto the ball too long, which some took as him not fully grasping his reads to this point. Also, while he was completing the majority of his passes, doing it in practice is a lot different than in a live game.
Stidham proved any of his doubters wrong when he was real solid, playing just over two quarters in the Patriots' 31-3 win over the Lions. The Auburn product replaced Brian Hoyer late in the first half and finished the game.
Afterwards, the Auburn product discussed his progression when it comes to learning the system.
"From Day 1 to now, I have grown so much and I have to continue to grow," he said to reporters. "I know there is a ton of stuff I don't know and I still have to continue to learn. I am really looking forward to getting in the film room tomorrow and continuing [to learn]."
Stidham finished 14-for-24 with 179 yards and a touchdown pass to Jakobi Meyers in the closing seconds of the first half.
"It's always good [to play]," he said. "In practice, the quarterbacks can't get touched. It's always great to get back into live football. You can't really simulate that in practice. It was great to get out there with bullets flying and play some real football."
The 23-year-old acknowledged he's been getting rid of the ball quicker as each day as gone by.
"Absolutely," Stidham said. "The more I am just doing it, the more comfortable I feel and that sort of thing. Josh [McDaniels] has been extremely good in the meeting room. He's a great teacher. I am just trying to take as much in from him and Tom [Brady] and Brian [Hoyer] and Mick [Lombardi] as much as I can. Just really trying to improve every single day."
Being a rookie in his first NFL season, Stidham is just doing what he can and not trying to do too much. As of now, he remains the No. 3 quarterback behind Brady and Hoyer, but will be on the 53-man roster given where he was selected.
"Obviously, I am in a new offense, so I am just trying to learn everything as a whole and kind of how we operate," Stidham said. "Sitting in the pocket and just trying to make the throws when I can and that sort of thing. Just trying to do my job."
