LIVE: Jarrett Stidham jumps over Brian Hoyer in Patriots QB depth chart

FOXBORO – Jarrett Stidham is rising up the Patriots depth chart.

After starting the season as the Patriots No. 3 quarterback, the second-year player has leapfrogged over Brian Hoyer after the team’s loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. On Sunday, with Cam Newton back, Stidham was active and Hoyer was inactive for the first time this season.

In the first three weeks, Hoyer was the primary backup to Newton. Stidham was inactive and a healthy scratch for those [...]

FOXBORO – Jarrett Stidham is rising up the Patriots depth chart.

After starting the season as the Patriots No. 3 quarterback, the second-year player has leapfrogged over Brian Hoyer after the team’s loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. On Sunday, with Cam Newton back, Stidham was active and Hoyer was inactive for the first time this season.

In the first three weeks, Hoyer was the primary backup to Newton. Stidham was inactive and a healthy scratch for those contests. Even when Newton missed the team’s Week 4 matchup in Kansas City, it was Hoyer who got the start and Stidham who worked as the backup. In that game, however, Hoyer was pulled and benched after throwing 130 yards to go with an interception. He also made two mental errors that cost the Patriots two field goal attempts.

Stidham came into that game and wasn’t perfect, throwing for 60 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. However, his one touchdown pass was the only touchdown the Patriots scored that night.

Stidham beat out Hoyer last year for the backup spot behind Tom Brady. It tool him some time, but it looks like he’s moved ahead of Hoyer once again.

Also inactive for the Patriots is Dalton Keene, Carl Davis, Myles Bryant and J.J. Taylor.

Welcome to Gillette Stadium

Welcome to Gillette Stadium where the Patriots will take on the Denver Broncos.

There’s been a lot of drama leading up to this Week 6 matchup thanks to Covid-19. This game will be played a week after originally scheduled. At first, the NFL postponed it when the Patriots had four players on the Covid-19/Reserve list. The game today will still go on despite the Pats placing three more players – Sony Michel, Shaq Mason and Derek Rivers – on that Covid/Reserve list on Saturday.

According to The Athletic, Michel tested positive for coronavirus while Mason and Rivers were placed on the reserve list due to being in close contact with someone who did test positive. The Pats also placed James Ferentz on the list on Friday.

According to ESPN, there were no new positive cases of coronavirus on Sunday morning.

With four players on the reserve, the Patriots called up Caleb Benenoch, Rashod Berry, Nick Thurman and Isaiah Zuber on Saturday.

Today also marks the return of Cam Newton, who missed the Patriots loss in Kansas City after he tested positive for Covid-19.

mdaniels@providencejournal.com

On Twitter: @MarkDanielsPJ