Jarrett Stidham took advantage of his preseason stage on Friday night, putting together a sharp performance against the Atlanta Falcons and giving the Denver Broncos another reason to feel good about their quarterback room.
Stidham came out aggressive from the jump. On Denver’s opening drive, he connected with Courtland Sutton deep in the red zone on a throw that came just a foot or so short of being a touchdown. He kept Atlanta on its heels from there, finishing the first quarter 6 of 8 for 122 yards.
Early in the second quarter, Stidham finally cashed in. He hit Jaleel McLaughlin on a short completion, and the Broncos running back did the rest, crossing the goal line for the score.
By the time the night was over, Stidham had gone 9 of 15 for 131 yards and a touchdown. It was the kind of outing that matters in August, especially for a quarterback trying to hold his place on the depth chart. For Stidham, that means staying ahead of Sam Ehlinger as the Broncos continue sorting out the backup spot behind Bo Nix.
Nix, of course, didn’t play Friday in Atlanta, but his grip on the starting job already looks secure. The former Auburn quarterback has made a strong early impression in his first two NFL seasons under Broncos head coach Sean Payton, throwing for 7,706 yards and 54 touchdowns since entering the league. Now heading into year three, he’s positioned for what looks like a major step forward.
For Auburn fans, Denver has become an easy team to keep an eye on. There’s plenty of appeal in seeing two former Tigers working in the same quarterback room, even if their Auburn paths never overlapped. And with that orange-and-blue look, the Broncos make it even easier to follow along on Sundays.
In Other News...
Alvin Henderson Is Crashing Auburns Toughest Position Battle
Alvin Henderson has made the kind of early fall impression that tends to get a coachs attention, especially in a room as crowded as Auburns running back group. Strong work on special teams and a solid first scrimmage have pushed him into the conversation, and head coach Alex Golesh along with running backs coach Larry Porter have both pointed to his recent improvement as a reason he is suddenly part of the picture behind starter Jeremiah Cobb.
For Auburn, that matters because the depth chart still feels very much up for grabs beyond the top spot. Omar Mabson, Bryson Washington and Nykahi Davenport are all still in the mix, which means Henderson is trying to break through in a battle where nothing has been handed out yet. The Tigers like having options, but the next stretch of camp will tell whether Hendersons surge is the start of something bigger or just the latest twist in a tightly contested race. [Read more 🡒]
Former Auburn WR Just Added To A Frustrating Tigers Debate
Camden Browns first NFL preseason game gave Auburn fans a familiar jolt of what might have been. The former Tigers receiver turned in a strong debut for the Dallas Cowboys, catching three passes for 62 yards and two touchdowns, while head coach Brian Schottenheimer pointed to Browns steady work in practice and his value on special teams.
For Auburn, Browns performance lands in a debate that never fully goes away when former players break out elsewhere: whether the talent was overlooked, underused or simply developed on a different path. Brown had limited chances in Auburn orange, but he was a standout at Georgia Southern and led the Sun Belt in touchdowns there, giving his latest showing another layer of frustration for a fan base still watching former wideouts find traction after leaving The Plains. [Read more 🡒]