Jarrett Stidham is making his first start–for the Denver Broncos or otherwise–since Week 18 of the 2023 season, and it will come in the AFC Championship Game against the New England Patriots.
The Patriots drafted Stidham with the No. 133 overall pick of the 2019 draft.
Stidham has never played against the Patriots, and he will debut with a berth in the Super Bowl on the line.
Jarrett Stidham Getting Protection Boost vs Patriots
GettyLuke Wattenberg #60 of the Denver Broncos on the sidelines during a game against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Having placed starting quarterback Bo Nix on injured reserve, cementing Stidham’s role as the starter through the remainder of their postseason run, the Broncos announced that they were activating center Luke Wattenberg from injured reserve to their 53-man roster.
Wattenberg has been sidelined since the Broncos’ Week 16 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
“Wattenberg played every offensive snap across the Broncos’ first 15 games of the season before missing the last four weeks due to injury,” DenverBroncos.com’s Aric DiLalla wrote on January 24. “He was designated for return from practice on Wednesday, and he is now eligible to play against the Patriots.”
The 28-year-old pivot is in his second season as a starter, logging 13 games with the first string in 2024, which was also marred by injuries.
Denver originally drafted Wattenberg with the 171st overall pick of the 2022 draft. He started one of his seven appearances as a rookie. Wattenberg logged all 16 of his appearances in 2023 off the Broncos’ bench.
The Broncos signed Wattenberg to a four-year, $48 million extension in November.
Wattenberg’s return was inarguably the biggest development for the Broncos that bodes well for Stidham directly. It was certainly not the only one.
Broncos Add 2 WRs for AFC Championship Game
GettyElijah Moore #18 of the Denver Broncos celebrates a touchdown against the New York Jets.
The Broncos also bolstered their pass-catching corps around Stidham for this contest. They elevated wide receivers Elijah Moore and Michael Bandy for the game. It will air on Sunday at 3:00 p.m. ET on CBS, Paramount+, and NFL+.
“Bandy has appeared in four games for the Broncos this season, catching four passes for 50 yards and a touchdown,” DiLalla wrote. “Moore has yet to appear in a game since signing with the Broncos’ practice squad in December, but he has caught 209 passes for 2,274 yards and nine touchdowns in his career.”
Moore was on the radar before the Buffalo Bills game, but did not play.
That could change this week. Injuries to players ahead of Moore on the depth chart could force the Broncos’ hand.
“He told Denver Gazette he knew beforehand wouldn’t be active & it was as a reward for a full game check,” The Denver Gazette’s Chris Tomasson reported on X on January 24. “Now, Moore very well could be active Sunday due to Troy Franklin hamstring injury.”
Rookie third-round pick Pat Bryant is set to play, but has had two concussions this season.
At any rate, Stidham will have options behind Courtland Sutton at wide receiver and Evan Engram. Engram is a tight end, but also the Broncos’ third-leading pass-catcher.
Patriots Cut Former Broncos Playmaker From Roster
GettyTrent Sherfield Sr. of the Denver Broncos reacts after a game against the New York Jets.
One of Stidham’s former targets, wide receiver Trent Sherfield, was the recipient of unfortunate news ahead of the AFCCG.
The Broncos signed Sherfield in free agency during the 2025 offseason. However, they released him in November, and the veteran signed with the Arizona Cardinals four days later. The Cardinals cut Sherfield on January 12.
He signed with the Patriots on January 13.
On January 23, the Patriots announced that they “released” Sherfield from their practice squad amid their roster shake-up.
“The New England Patriots announced that WR Mack Hollins has been activated to the 53-man roster from injured reserve,” the team posted on its official website on January 24. “In addition, the Patriots placed DT Eric Gregory on injured reserve and elevated RB D’Ernest Johnson and DE Leonard Taylor III to the active roster from the practice squad for the second straight week.”
Stidham and the rest of the healthy members of the Broncos’ roster will have their hands full.
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