As for Denver, Mark Sanchez will be the starting quarterback for the Broncos’ preseason opener in Chicago on Thursday night. But Sanchez’s impressive opening series was followed by a interception on the next drive. Fortunately, the receiver was so open that the poor throw didn’t matter, and Thomas simply waited for the ball to fall into his hands.
Advertisement
Sanchez, who reached back-to-back AFC Championship Games for the New York Jets in his first two National Football League seasons but started only 10 games total the past three years, forced a pass into traffic and Bears linebacker Jerrell Freeman picked off the tipped pass.
Everything about the Bears was bad in this game. I wasn’t really sure if he was going to go or not, but he wants to be out there with us. “We still have guys who have to get out there – Eddie Royal and Zach [Miller] so we’re still short some guys that hopefully we’ll get back this week”. While he did tip a pass that led to a Jerrell Freeman interception, Callahan was burned badly on a 32-yard touchdown in the first quarter.
While the Denver Broncos are having a competition at the quarterback position, Sanchez was announced as the starter for the first preseason game. “I am kind of going day to day”.
“I don’t know”, he said, per a team transcript. “Those exams are those preseason games and I can’t think of a better test than the defending world champs Thursday night”. The rookie, who spent virtually zero time at center during training camp, proceeded to suffer through a sequence of holding and hands-to-the-face penalties, a sack allowed followed by a snap almost over the head of quarterback Brian Hoyer.
Trevor Siemian, who is battling Sanchez for the starting job, was not as sharp. He may have been a step slow, because the game is still fast for the rookie, but you could see his potential as a beast in the trenches.
Smooth transition: Cutler had no issues working with new center Ted Larsen, a seven-year National Football League veteran who moved from guard earlier this week after Hroniss Grasu tore his ACL in last Saturday’s Family Fest practice. Coaches wanted to evaluate him at cornerback against Denver’s No. 1 offense, so they started him and gave established veteran Tracy Porter the night off. Rookie safety DeAndre Houston-Carson was beat on an inside move by Broncos wide receiver Bennie Fowler who was able to get a paw on Pat O’Donnell’s punt. Siemian completed 7 of 12 passes for 88 yards. “We’ve got to stay consistent and hopefully make this team”. The Denver Broncos take on the Chicago Bears in the first week of preseason. Replacing Jackson will be more important to this pressure-oriented defense than replacing Trevathan and Gotsis has been called a reach in the draft, so seeing how he fits will be key.
Advertisement
Additionally, the offense lead by Sanchez scored seven points – the Sanchez-to-Thomas touchdown – while the offense lead by Siemian scored 6 points – two Brandon McManus field goals. “They’ve been pretty solid, so we just have to keep moving forward”. Both Cutler and Fox downplayed the Broncos’ approach after the game, but it did seem to have the Bears on their heels a little bit.
