It seems inevitable that whoever wins the job to start the season is destined to eventually lose it.
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Colin Kaepernick threw dozens of passes on the side during the 49ers’ joint practice Thursday with the Denver Broncos, signaling the quarterback’s return from a sore passing shoulder.
The Broncos have no choice but to start the season off with the vet, and if the struggles occur then make the switch, but you do not open a Super Bowl possible season with an unproven player while a capable vet sits on the bench, that’s backwards, that’s Houston Texans football there. He had the touchdown pass last week, but some bad misconnections prior to that. With Peyton Manning and Brock Osweiler gone, their replacements have played pedestrian football through training camp and the two preseason games.
Lynch, whom the Broncos selected with the 26th pick after moving up in the draft, made a strong case for the starting spot Saturday, completing 15 of 26 attempts for 113 yards with two touchdowns and one interception.
Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor was 7 of 10 for 132 yards with a attractive scoring strike to a diving LeSean McCoy.
My money would be on Paxton Lynch and the quarterback battle is down to Siemian and Lynch who will probably see plenty of first team work on Saturday night.
Through training camp and two preseason games, Sanchez’s play has been up and down. The Saints had a chance to send the game to overtime with an untimed down from the 12-yard line, but third-string quarterback Garrett Grayson threw an interception to cornerback Robert Nelson in the end zone to end the game.
“I feel like I squandered an opportunity to separate myself”, Sanchez told reporters after Saturday’s 31-24 loss to the 49ers. No excuse for that.
-Newly signed quarterback Christian Ponder, who signed with the 49ers on Tuesday, played the final quarter after Gabbert and Driskel.
I think this is the week for Harold. I’m curious to see how much, if at all, Ponder gets to play in this game. – Gabbert on his play and the performance of the offense as a whole.
Kaepernick hasn’t practiced with the team since August 10.
Chip Kelly’s offense uses a lot of intermediate throws.
– Los Angeles Rams receiver Bradley Marquez (right leg) and Kansas City Chiefs fullback Trey Millard (left knee) were both carted to the locker room during Saturday’s 21-20 Rams win at the Los Angeles Coliseum. Bellore had four tackles, a pass defensed and a fumble recovery before exiting the game. If he can put together a consistent preseason for the Broncos, there is a good chance that he could earn a No. 3 wide receiver role. He has been sacked three times and fumbled twice.
“Going into my eighth year I know better, I know I’ve got to get the ball out”, Sanchez said after the game.
MORE: NFL preseason power rankings – where do the 49ers, Broncos fall?
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But the 49ers’ sluggish start didn’t ruin their night. WR Bruce Ellington did not play because of an ankle injury. The score tied the game at 7-7 with 14:52 remaining in the first half. The game was delayed 30 minutes because of lightning late in the third quarter. After letting free agent lineman Malik Jackson walk in free agency, a reasonable financial decision, his ostensible replacement Vance Walker tore an ACL and won’t play this year.
