Patriots cut Brian Hoyer. PHOTO: Patriots media website
The New England Patriots have released veteran backup quarterback Brian Hoyer making rookie Jarrett Stidham the primary backup to Tom Brady.
Hoyer has been Brady’s primary backup since his return to the team midway through the 2017 season.
“Brian has been great for us. He’s great for Tom. He’s done a nice job in the preseason, obviously. Brian knows our system, knows how to operate and function within the things we do, throws the ball well and is an extremely hard worker. Really smart, great teammate and as good a leader as any backup quarterback that I’ve been around," said offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels earlier this week.
During this preseason, Hoyer went 18 of 22 for 202 yards and two touchdowns and one interception in wins over the Detroit Lions and the Tennessee Titans.
However, he did not see any action in either of the final two preseason games.
New England has not started a season with three quarterbacks on their 53 man roster since 2011, when they had Brady, Hoyer and Ryan Mallett.
Stidham in the Preseason
New England drafted Stidham in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL Draft out of Auburn.
In four preseason games, Stidham completed 61 of 90 passes for 731 yards and four touchdowns with one interception.
He also rushed for 88 yards on 19 attempts.
Stidham played the entire fourth preseason game and went 18 of 28 for 225 yards and two touchdowns with one interception.
“Whatever my role is on this team that’s what I’m going to do. I’m going to continue to work as hard as I possibly can to help the team any way I can so that’s the way I’m looking at it,” said Stidham following the Patriots fourth preseason game.
Roster Cut Down
The Patriots, and every NFL team, must be down to 53 players by 4 p.m. on Saturday, August 31.
Stay tuned to GoLocalProv to find out who has been cut and who made the team.
Related Slideshow: 5 Takeaways From the Patriots 31-29 Preseason Loss to the Giants - August 29, 2019
A big surprise in this game was wide receivers Josh Gordon, Julian Edelman, and Demaryius Thomas all made their preseason debuts after not playing in the previous three games due to injuries and in Gordon’s case suspension.
Edelman only played one series and caught one pass for 20 yards down the sideline from Jarrett Stidham.
After catching the pass, Edelman walked to the sideline looking at his hand.
Once on the sideline, he was briefly examined by trainer Jim Whalen.
Edelman did not return to the game, but did stay on the sideline.
Gordon saw live game action for the first time since he was suspended last season.
Gordon hauled in two passes for 30 yards in the game.
One catch was down the sideline where Gordon made the catch and then sheaded a defender to pick up several yards.
The second catch was on a slant over the middle.
Gordon also drew a pass interference call down the sideline that later led to a Patriots touchdown.
Thomas saw his first action after tearing his ACL last season in Houston.
He led all receivers with seven catches for 87 yards and two touchdowns
Thomas was responsible for a fumble in the first quarter on an end-around play.
Stidham went to hand him the ball and instead of giving the rookie quarterback a pocket to put the ball in, he tried grabbing it with his fingers and fumbled it.
Rookie quarterback Jarrett Stidham played the entire game for the Patriots on Thursday night, possibly sealing his spot as the number two quarterback behind Tom Brady.
“Whatever decision is made, whatever my role is on this team that's what I’m going to do. I’m going to continue to work as hard as I possibly can to help the team any way I can so that’s the way I’m looking at it,” said Stidham in his post-game press conference.
He completed 18 of 28 passes for 225 yards and two touchdowns and an interception.
The first touchdown pass was to Thomas on a 35-yard back-shoulder throw down the sideline to cut New York’s lead to 10-9.
Stidham’s second touchdown pass was also to Thomas.
On the play, Stidham scrambled to the left drawing defenders to him and found a wide-open Thomas in the back of the end zone.
On the interception, Stidham scrambled to his right and was hit as he threw. The throw ended up being a pop-up and an easy interception.
“It was good, just like the three other preseason games have been good, just to get reps. Whether its come into the second quarter or play the whole game, my focus has been on getting reps,” said Stidham
Second-year defensive back Keion Crossen's night got off to a rough start.
He was in primary coverage on Giants star receiver Golden Tate and was beaten on a couple of occasions including on a long pass down the sideline.
However, he recovered later in the game.
Crossen racked up 12 tackles in the game and had a diving interception along the sideline where he was able to keep his feet in bounds.
Crossen is in a battle to make the roster as a member of the secondary.
New England's secondary is seemingly set with Stephon Gilmore, the McCourty brothers, Patrick Chung, Duran Harmon, J.C. Jackson, and rookie JoJuan Williams.
If the Patriots decide to go with ten players on the secondary depth chart, Crossen could find himself on the roster.
