Jarrett Stidham hits Davante Adams on 60-yard touchdown pass

The Las Vegas Raiders shook up the NFL earlier in the week, announcing that they would be benching Derek Carr and ending the season with Jarrett Stidham as the starter. In the first half, it appeared that was the right move, as Stidham threw for three touchdown passes, including one that lit up the internet.

With the third quarter just getting going, Stidham was faced with a 3^rd and 4, looking to build on the Raiders’ 17-14 lead on the San Francisco 49ers. Stidham waited until the very last moment before rifling a pass to a wide open Davante Adams down the field. Adams caught the pass and took it 60 yards for a score.

You can see the play below.

Jarrett Stidham! Davante Adams! Run it back.

📺: #SFvsLV on FOX
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/AWLwvE0huJ pic.twitter.com/TazRLCgZOZ

— NFL (@NFL) January 1, 2023

Stidham came into the NFL via the fourth round of the 2019 NFL Draft, selected by the New England Patriots with the No. 133 pick that April. He began his college football career with the Baylor Bears, but finished it following two seasons leading the Auburn Tigers.

In his NFL career, Stidham has only thrown 61 passes, completing 32 of them and amassing 342 yards, two touchdowns and four interceptions.

Evidently, Stidham made an impression on McDaniels, as the Raiders coach brought him to Las Vegas via trade when he took the job with the AFC West franchise. While Carr has survived multiple coaching changes and has been vocal about wanting to remain with the Raiders, perhaps this is the first step of the team moving on.

“[H]e works really hard and he’s very bright, understands our offensive system,” McDaniels said of Stidham. “He’s prepared like he’s playing every week since he’s been in the NFL. He was the backup as a rookie, he has experience getting himself ready to go in that regard. … I expect him to be ready to go like he’s always been. I know that’s his mindset, he works really hard to do that.”

Steve Samra contributed to this report