What to Expect from Jarrett Stidham, Everything Payton Said About New Broncos QB1 amid Bo Nix Injury

Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton is confident his backup quarterback is "ready to go" now that he's thrust into starting duty ahead of the AFC championship game.

Following Saturday's 33-30 overtime win over the Buffalo Bills, Payton confirmed Bo Nix fractured a bone in his right ankle and will miss the rest of the NFL playoffs. That puts the spotlight squarely on Jarrett Stidham.

"He's ready, he's ready," the coach told reporters. "I feel like I've got a two who's capable of starting for a number of teams and I know he feels the same way. Watch out, just watch."

▶️ Full Bills-Broncos Recap

05:53

Payton added that "Stiddy is ready, we'll be ready for the next challenge."

"[Stidham] is experienced, he's played in games, they're different types of players to some degree and yet they're very close friends," he said of the dynamic between Stidham and Nix. "It's a tight room."

Payton also believes Nix's injury could be a rallying point for the Broncos, who will "celebrate the season for him."

"This team all year has lost key players," he said, per The Athletic's Nick Kosmider. "We'll rise up for the next challenge, and we'll go from there."

When it comes to Stidham, a lot of people probably don't share Payton's level of faith.

The 2019 fourth-round pick hasn't attempted a pass in a regular season game since 2023, and his body of work to this point isn't encouraging. He has thrown for 1,422 yards, eight touchdowns and eight interceptions with a 59.4 percent completion rate and a 78.3 passer rating in 20 career appearances.

Payton has been singing the 29-year-old's praises from the moment Denver signed him in 2023. He asserted at the time Stidham "can become an NFL starter in our league."

The Broncos ultimately didn't believe in him enough to avoid taking Nix with the No. 12 pick in the 2024 draft.

Maybe Stidham will prove the skeptics wrong and back up his coach's assessment after all in Denver's quest for a Super Bowl title.