While Broncos fans may be nervous going into the season with two players who have never attempted an National Football League pass holding down the most important position in the sport, they should be encouraged that the team clearly feels comfortable with Lynch playing, if necessary.
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Rams: While most of L.A.’s starters played through the first half, RB Todd Gurley sat this one out.
In only his second start as a pro, Siemian helped the Broncos to a 17-9 victory over the Los Angeles Rams in their third preseason game, one that is annually the most significant but one that, this year, is more so. The Broncos had previously traded their 2017 sixth-round pick as part of a package to acquire tight end Vernon Davis.
“I’m not reading too much into it, ” he said of his second straight start. And now he will wait to see if Broncos coach Gary Kubiak agrees. I think I’ve progressed ever since OTAs all the way till now. They’ve been battling and I think they’re getting better.
Lynch’s fellow signal-callers, Mark Sanchez and Trevor Siemian, can not say the same, and have done little to distance themselves from the pack.
Siemian, who has started the past two preseason games for the Broncos and remains on the inside track to start the September 8 regular-season opener against the Carolina Panthers, finished the first half 10-of-17 passing for 122 yards with a touchdown and an interception. He dinged his shoulder when he tried to make a tackle on safety Ed Reid, who intercepted him and returned it for a touchdown early in the second quarter. I don’t know. I’ve got enough going on that I can make a decision.
“I’m very excited about the progress he’s made”, Kubiak said. “I’ll just try to be the best teammate I can be”. I just want to play my heart out for that last game. As mentioned multiple times, his two-turnover performance last Saturday left him in a hard spot. He was 10 of 17 for 120 yards, fumbled twice and was almost picked off. “It wasn’t like, ‘OK, that’s it, throw in the towel.’ A lot of people interpreted it that way”. I’ve been waiting and wishing for an opportunity like, ‘What can’t I be just like Von?’ I remember being in Tampa and thinking why can’t you let me go?
Siemian finished the game 10-of-17 for 122 yards with a touchdown and an interception. “I’m still in the moment”.
Broncos: Anderson needed stiches to close a cut on his right ear. Like Broncos’ general manager John Elway initially expected, though, the former Memphis standout has performed better than many previously believed he would through training camp and preseason action. Kubiak said OL Darrion Weems is in the concussion protocol but is “doing well”. Weems is in the concussion protocol.
After the Rams stopped the Broncos on fourth-and-1 at their 45, the Rams took over but once again failed to score a touchdown in the red zone, settling for a 38-yard field goal and a 6-0 lead.
Unfortunately, rumors have circulated that suggest Sanchez may also be at risk of losing his spot to the other two quarterbacks.
The second half becomes the battle for backup roster spots that will continue through the fourth and final preseason game when presumed starters are bolted to the bench for the objective of healing wounds or not acquiring more.
“[It] felt good. I got a lot of playing time”, said Lynch via ESPN. He did some really good stuff tonight. If everything goes wrong, and Siemian is awful and Lynch isn’t close to being ready, both GM John Elway and Gary Kubiak have left themselves vulnerable to vast criticism. C James Ferentz is out for a few weeks after having a knee scoped Monday. DE Derek Wolfe and LB Dekoda Watson both were excused from practice to deal with personal issues.
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NOTES: CB Aqib Talib did not practice because of illness.
