The New England Patriots saw quarterback Jarrett Stidham and defensive tackle Byron Cowart return to practice on Wednesday after starting the season on the physically unable to perform list.
Both players had been dealing with back injuries, with Stidham undergoing surgery during training camp.
Stidham joins a quarterback group that includes Mac Jones and Brian Hoyer. It’s likely Stidham, when fully healthy, will leapfrog Hoyer as the team’s backup. Hoyer and Stidham had been locked in a battle for QB2 in 2020 behind Cam Newton — Stidham came out on top.