The Patriots on Saturday released veteran backup quarterback Brian Hoyer, a move that may have a ripple effect throughout the league among teams looking for a veteran backup.
The move effectively signaled Patriots coach Bill Belichick's confidence in rookie Jarrett Stidham to serve as the backup to Tom Brady. Stidham, a fourth-round pick out of Auburn, took all the snaps in New England's final exhibition game Thursday. By contrast, Hoyer did not appear in either of the team's final two exhibitions.
“I think whatever decision is made, whatever my role is on this team, that's what I'm going to do,” Stidham said (per masslive.com) after going 18 for 28 for 225 yards and two TDs and an interception in Thursday's 31-29 loss to the Giants. “Whatever it is, I'm going to continue to work as hard as I possibly can to do that and to help the team in whatever way I can, so that's kind of how I'm looking at it.”
Hoyer, 33, was in his second stint in New England, which signed him after he went undrafted in the 2009 NFL Draft. Hoyer, who has started 37 of his 65 NFL games, also has played for the Cardinals, Browns, Texans, Bears and 49ers.
Teams possibly in the market for a backup quarterback include the Broncos, who released their No. 2 quarterback, Brian Hogan; the Colts, whose QB situation was thrown into flux when Andrew Luck retired; and the Lions.