Denver Broncos backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham was nearly perfect in the team’s 30-9 preseason win over the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday.

Stidham went 14-of-15 passing for 136 yards with two touchdowns, including a perfectly-placed 36-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Trent Sherfield late in the second quarter. Stidham also rushed three times for a team-high 36 yards. The 29-year-old quarterback deflected praise to his teammates after the win.

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“I think it was good that we were able to move the ball and put some points on the board,” Stidham said. “But, you know, the guys around me played great. The line played incredibly well and the backs ran the ball super well. That obviously helps the pass game. The receivers were running a lot of good routes and catching the football. So it was a team effort and like I said earlier, we shot ourselves in the foot a little bit with some of the penalties, but we’ll get that cleaned up and get ready to go next week.”

Stidham competed for the starting quarterback job with Bo Nix last summer and then spent the 2024 season as the team’s QB2 after Nix won QB1 duties. After the game on Saturday, Stidham was asked about recalibrating and being the No. 2 quarterback behind Nix in 2025.

“No, it’s been great — Bo Nix and I obviously have an incredible relationship,” Stidham said. “I mean, he’s one of my closest friends and being able to be with him and help him out as much as I possibly can, that’s what I’m here to do. Not only him, but the rest of the guys on offense. And this is a lot of us. This is our third year in this system together. We’re just trying to keep pushing guys to be better and keep pushing him to continue to excel and lead the team.”

Stidham only played 14 snaps last season as he was given mop-up duties late in games. If all goes well with Nix in 2025, Stidham will have a similar role this fall, and it sounds like he has embraced his position as a veteran backup, mentor and friend to Nix.

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This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: Denver Broncos: Jarrett Stidham says starter Bo Nix is a close friend