FOXBORO — Give Patriots defensive tackle Milton Williams credit. He was open and honest when asked what he knows about Broncos QB Jarrett Stidham.

“Nothing. I ain’t gonna lie, nothing,” Williams said. “We’re gonna watch the tape on him and figure out what he likes to do. But no. They didn’t like him over the Bo [Nix], so.”

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That’s true. Stidham hasn’t even thrown a pass since Nix was selected in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. The Broncos did think highly enough of Stidham to give him a two-year, $12 million contract this offseason in free agency, when the Patriots were also interested in signing their former fourth-round pick.

Now Stidham, who was drafted by the Patriots in 2019 and spent three seasons in New England, will be thrust into duty Sunday against his former team in the AFC Championship Game after Nix suffered a broken ankle in the final moments of the Broncos’ divisional-round win over the Bills.

There was a period of time between Tom Brady leaving in free agency for the Buccaneers in March 2020 and the Patriots signing Cam Newton in July when it appeared that Stidham would be the heir apparent at quarterback, especially after the team didn’t draft a QB that spring.

Stidham instead began the 2020 season as a third-stringer behind Newton and Brian Hoyer.

Right guard Mike Onwenu, who was Stidham’s teammate in 2020 and 2021, said he couldn’t provide much intel when asked what he remembered about the Broncos QB.

“I mean, obviously, I’m blocking for him, so I can’t really speak to him or his play, but I think he was a great quarterback,” Onwenu said. I think he was supposed to be next in line. So I’m sure he’s still a great quarterback.”

Onwenu did say Stidham was “a good guy” as a teammate.

“That was so many years ago, but wish him the best and all that,” Onwenu said.

Stidham had back surgery and missed the entire 2021 season. Outside linebacker Anfernee Jennings was also a rookie when Stidham was competing against Newton in training camp for the Patriots’ starting job.

“I remember that he was a competitor, somebody that took his job serious, somebody that prepared the right way,” Jennings said. “Just somebody that know how to play football like an NFL quarterback and somebody that we’ve got to prepare for.”

In his career, Stidham has completed 59.4% of his passes for 1,422 yards with eight touchdowns and eight interceptions in 20 games with four starts. He started two games apiece in 2022 with the Raiders and 2023 with the Broncos, and he’s 1-3 in those games.

Stidham never started with the Patriots, though he did get into eight games, completing 50% of his passes for 270 yards with two touchdowns and four interceptions.

He played under current Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels from 2020 to 2022. McDaniels brought Stidham to the Raiders during his first year as head coach in Las Vegas.