Cam Newton has seen a different Jarrett Stidham of late. It won’t be enough to cost Newton his job yet, though.
Patriots coach Bill Belichick shot down any talk of a quarterback change following Thursday night’s ugly 24-3 loss to the Rams that dropped New England to 6-7.
“Cam’s our quarterback,” Belichick said while cutting of a reporter’s question in the postgame press conference.
Newton, who is dealing with an abdominal injury, was pulled for Stidham early in the fourth quarter. The veteran finished 9-for-16 for 119 yards and threw a crushing pick-six on a horribly thrown screen pass that gave Los Angeles a 17-0 lead early in the second quarter.
“That’s not my call,” Newton said of a potential quarterback switch. “I’m just doing what I’m asked, with the mentality of getting better, and that’s what I keep planning on doing.”
Stidham completed 5-of-7 passes for 27 yards in his brief opportunity on Thursday night. Stidham has appeared in four games this season, though three of those came in mop-up duty.
When Newton missed a Week 4 tilt against the Chiefs, Stidham replaced Brian Hoyer in the second half in his only meaningful action of the season. Still, Newton has been impressed of what he has seen from the second-year quarterback in practice recently.
“Man, I’m so proud of Stid, man,” Newton said on WEEI’s “Greg Hill Show.” this week.
“We had a chat (Monday) in the QB room, and honestly, his growth and his development is something that really caught my attention. Because I’ve known him enough to know I don’t know if he makes that throw or able to stay in that pocket — a murky pocket, for what it was — and fire an absolute strike to Gun Show.”
The loss dropped New England 2 1/2 games behind the Colts for the final wild-card spot in the AFC. Newton’s running ability (451 yards, 11 touchdowns) has added a different facet to the Patriots offense, however his current lack of arm strength and accuracy has limited the passing attack (five touchdowns, 10 interceptions) all season.
It seems unlikely the 31-year-old Newton, who signed a one-year deal last offseason, is the Patriots’ answer at QB beyond this season. Stidham may not be either, but Belichick could use the end of this season to better judge the former Auburn star and fourth-round draft pick.
“I’m always a (proponent) of winning football, and just to see him grow is something that I’m extremely pleased about,” Newton said of Stidham.
