Jarrett Stidham won the QB2 job, but Sam Ehlinger made it close

The Denver Broncos finalized their quarterback room heading into the regular season. And for the first time in recent memory, the backup competition behind Bo Nix generated some intrigue.

The team is carrying three quarterbacks on the active roster – Nix, Jarrett Stidham and Sam Ehlinger. The pecking order appears settled, with Stidham retaining his spot as the QB2. But after what Ehlinger showed in his final preseason appearance, the conversation about that depth chart is far from over.

On a recent edition of “Stokley and Evans, with Mark Schlereth” on 104.3 The Fan, Brandon Stokley walked through the decision and acknowledged that the gap between the two backups is thinner than most people might expect.

“I’m probably gonna stay with Jarrett Stidham right now, but it’s close,” Stokley said.

That qualifier – “but it’s close” – tells the full story. Ehlinger was electric in the preseason finale against the Minnesota Vikings, completing 15 of 20 passes for 233 yards and three touchdowns, while leading the Broncos to a dominant 34-6 victory.

He threw an interception on his first drive of the game, but what followed was a masterclass in composure and execution. Ehlinger scored on four of his next six drives, showing the kind of command and rhythm that made the entire stadium take notice.

Stokley was particularly impressed by one specific element of Ehlinger’s game.

“And Ehlinger, he did a really good job. Because he’s an athletic quarterback, and you know, it’s hard for those guys to stay patient in the pocket. What do you do after that clock goes off in your head, and you’re like, ‘Okay, I gotta get out of here,’ and try to make a play with your feet. But I’d probably stay with Stidham for now,” Stokley said.

Athletic quarterbacks are often tempted to abandon the pocket early and create with their legs. Ehlinger’s willingness to stay patient, work through his progressions, and deliver the ball from the pocket showed growth, the kind of development that makes a coaching staff confident a player can manage a game if called upon.

Mike Evans pressed for the reasoning behind Stidham’s edge.

“Why? What’s the edge?” Evans asked.

“He played in the AFC Championship Game last year; he’s got more game experience. Not a lot, but a little bit more. So I’d just give him a slight edge,” Stokley said.

That’s the thinnest of margins. Stidham’s experience in meaningful games, even though the AFC title game performance was one most people would rather forget, gives him a familiarity with high-pressure situations that Ehlinger simply hasn’t had the opportunity to accumulate yet.

It’s not a talent gap. It’s a reps gap. And reps gaps have a way of closing when one player keeps performing the way Ehlinger has.

The Broncos are hoping they never need to make this decision in a game that matters again. But after what the preseason revealed, at least the organization knows that the competition behind Nix is real, and that both backups bring something legitimate to the table. Stidham holds the spot for now. Ehlinger just made sure everyone knows how close he is to taking it.

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