The rookie will likely make the roster White Michael Bennett Jerseys , but what will his role look like?" />Skip to main contentclockmenumore-arrownoyesHorizontal - WhitePats Pulpita New England Patriots communityLog In or Sign UpLog InSign UpPatriots NewsOpinion and AnalysisContribute!About the SiteTopicsPatriotsOddsShopStubHubMoreAll 322 blogs on Horizontal - WhitePatriots News Opinion and Analysis Contribute! FanPostsFanShotsAbout the Site List of Patriots Twitter AccountsWrite For Pats Pulpit!New User Welcome and Commenting GuideCommunity GuidelinesMastheadTopics Patriots Off-Season CoveragePatriots Opinion/AnalysisPatriots NewsPatriots Draft CoverageSportfolio ManagementFiled under:Patriots AnalysisPatriots Player ProfilesPatriots Offseason CoverageNew England Patriots 2019 roster breakdown: #TBD QB Jarrett StidhamNew,7commentsThe rookie will likely make the roster, but what will his role look like?EDTShareTweetShareShareNew England Patriots 2019 roster breakdown: #TBD QB Jarrett StidhamJohn David Mercer-USA TODAY SportsThe New England Patriots, who are in the middle of their 2019 organized team activities, currently have the maximum of 90 players on their active roster. However, only 53 of them will be able to survive the cutdowns on August 31 and ultimately make the team. Over the course of the summer, we will take a look at the players fighting for those spots to find out who has the best chances of helping the Patriots defend their Super Bowl title.Today, the series continues with one of New England’s draft picks:Name: Jarrett StidhamPosition: QuarterbackJersey number: TBD (offseason #58)Opening day age: 23Experience: RookieSize: 6’3, 215 lbs.2018 review: Jarrett Stidham’s first season at Auburn was quite successful: the transfer from Baylor started all fourteen games and completed 246 of his 370 pass attempts (66.5%) for 3,158 yards (8.5 per attempt), 18 touchdowns and 6 interceptions, while also leading the Tigers to the SEC championship. But even though he showed plenty of promise, he did not reach the same level of performance in his follow-up campaign.Across the board, Stidham’s statistics went down in 2018 — his second season in the system: starting all thirteen of his team’s games Michael Bennett Jerseys 2019 , he threw one fewer pass on the year than he did in the previous season, but saw his completion percentage drop to 60.7% (224 of 369) and his yards per attempt to 7.6 per throw (2,794 yards in total). Not all was bad, though, as he again threw 18 touchdowns and also saw his interception total go down to 5.All in all, however, he did not display the same confidence during his junior year at Auburn that he did during his 2017 sophomore season. One reason for that might have been the changing cast of characters surrounding him, as well as the fact that he saw a lot put on his plate last year: even though he displayed a solid throwing technique and sound decision making most of the time, he felt to elevate his game when he needed to.Stidham, who decided to leave school early, did therefore not enter the pre-draft process as one of the top quarterback prospects despite his undeniable but inconsistent qualities. This, in turn, allowed New England to scoop him up on day three.2019 preview: The Patriots apparently felt that Stidham’s play in 2017 and 2015 — he completed 68.8% of his pass attempts at Bailor that year — was most reflective of who he was as a passer and his long-term outlook at the next level, or else they would not have invested the 133rd overall selection in him. And given his status as a fourth-round draft selection White Danny Shelton Jerseys , the 22-year-old can be considered a lock to make the 53-man roster this year.The main questions regarding the rookie in 2019 will therefore be about his ultimate role on the squad as well as his overall development. Will Stidham, for example, be able to beat out incumbent backup Brian Hoyer to potentially earn the number two role on the team (and by extension maybe even make Hoyer expendable)? Will he be able to perform in the Patriots’ challenging system? Will his already solid technique improve even further?The answers to these questions will not only determine Stidham’s roster outlook for the 2019 season, but also serve as the foundation for what comes beyond his rookie season. Before getting ahead of ourselves, however, let’s once more focus on the year that lies ahead and how the Auburn product might be used by the Patriots — and how he could fare given the circumstances in combination with his abilities.Unless he surprises during training camp and preseason, Stidham will likely enter the regular season as New England’s third quarterback behind Tom Brady and Hoyer. As such, he will see most if not all of his action in practice while running the scout team. Of course, the Patriots will use the rookie quite a lot during preseason but you should probably shy away from drafting him for your fantasy teams: don’t expect Stidham to see the field often in 2019. KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Chiefs safety Eric Berry sounded confident Friday that he’ll be on the field when Kansas City plays the New England Patriots in the AFC championship game at Arrowhead Stadium.The three-time All-Pro has been a full participant in practice this week after dealing with a heel injury, but needs the OK from coach Andy Reid to take the field Sunday night.“I feel pretty good. Just talk to Coach and see what he wants to do and go from there,” Berry said. “It would mean a lot not just for me and my family and my teammates, but the organization.”Berry tore his Achilles’ tendon in last year’s opener, sidelining him the rest of the season. He returned in time for summer workouts and the start of training camp. But a mysterious heel injury popped up that kept Berry off the field until Week 15 against the Chargers.Berry played more the following week on the turf in Seattle Danny Shelton Jerseys 2019 , but the injury recurred and he missed the regular-season finale against Oakland and the divisional round matchup against Indianapolis.“It was pretty frustrating, but you just have to keep rolling,” said Berry, who nevertheless broke down the pregame huddle with an emotional pep talk. “Keep focused and keep your head down.”Berry has become a pro at overcoming adversity.He missed most of one season with a torn ACL in his knee, and he missed the end of another when he was diagnosed with cancer. In both instances, he recovered in time to play the following season.However, those situations were relatively straightforward. There was a clear diagnosis and obvious path toward recovery. But the heel has been a challenge for Berry and the organization, once viewed as a “day-to-day” situation that became a saga that lasted months.There have been various reports, always citing unnamed sources, of a heel deformity that causes intense pain, but the Chiefs and Berry have refused to confirm them.Asked several times about the injury Friday, Berry merely replied: “It’s hard to explain.”Berry said he wasn’t concerned about the field causing the heel problems. It was torn up in the divisional round after several inches of snow fell before the game. The grounds crew spent this week replacing the turf between the hashes, along the sidelines and in one of the end zones.“I’m just being prepared for every situation,” Berry said. “Our field crew White Josh Gordon Jerseys , grounds crew is very good. They do a very good job. Just trusting in them that they can get the job done.”Berry’s value lies not just in his athletic ability, though the Chiefs could use some help covering Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski. Rather, his biggest benefit to a defense that has struggled mightily at times this season may be his leadership and on-field demeanor.“A huge impact. He’s a huge player for us,” Chiefs linebacker Dee Ford said.“The physicality he brings to this team and the leadership role is amazing,” Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones said.When he’s at his best, Berry is one of the best safeties in the NFL, adequate in coverage and dynamic at stuffing the run. But even at a fraction of his best, Berry is still talented enough to impact a game, and that’s why his return could prove critical to the Chiefs.“I mean, Eric’s a good football player. He’s an All-Pro player,” Reid said. “That’d be an obvious statement, but it’s another good player in the mix. A great player.”NOTES: Chiefs OLB Dorian O’Daniel (hamstring) was ruled out for the game. … WR Sammy Watkins (foot) and RB Spencer Ware (hamstring) participated in practice all week and are expected to play.100<button class="view-gallery">View Gallery</button> Gallery:View from the sidelines: NFL cheerleaders 2018Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports | Raj Mehta