Follow along with us at Predominantly Orange as we talk live about the Denver Broncos vs. Arizona Cardinals in this week’s game thread.
Well, to his credit, Denver Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak has adroitly handled another quarterback competition (he was careful in words with the media this week to not call it a “controversy”) and has, in my opinion, rightfully handed second-year signal caller Trevor Siemian the job for September 8 against the Carolina Panthers.
Nevertheless, four preseason games must be played and the fourth is against the Arizona Cardinals this evening at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.
Kubiak has said that Siemian’s backup, 2016 first round draft pick, Paxton Lynch, will get the entirety of the snaps in the game against the Cardinals, suggesting that, because of the salary he makes, expected starter Mark Sanchez could be gone.
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Because of the Minnesota Vikings’ unfortunate injury to anticipated starting quarterback Teddy Bridgewater Tuesday afternoon, there has suddenly emerged a potential trading market for Sanchez. In any event, I fully expect Sanchez to be released or traded once the next wave of cuts occur.
Of course, the Broncos have also made a definitive choice at punter as well as after six years in Denver, the team has severed ties with Britton Colquitt and 2016 seventh-round selection, Riley Dixon out of Syracuse, has taken the position.
One Broncos player on the squad for the time being who need a successful game Thursday to have a chance of remaining on the team, as the wise Nicki Jhabvala writes in the Denver Post, if Kubiak is serious about being a four running back team, tailback Kapri Bibbs needs a big game against the Cardinals, it stands to reason.
Meanwhile, with the Broncos being blessed with a deep receiving corps, Emmanuel Sanders and Demaryius Thomas will sit Thursday and Bennie Fowler and Cody Latimer are recovering from injuries.
Thus, it’s a great chance for Jordan Taylor, “Sunshine,” as he is known, to make an impact in the Valley of the Sun. A big game for him this evening could propel him into the mix against the Panthers September 8.
For me, perhaps this is a chance for Kalif Raymond to show the Broncos can use him as a returner, although Latimer was used more prominently in this role against Los Angeles last Saturday so perhaps he’s closer to the Turk’s blade than he cares to be.
In the Cardinals’ realm, as our friends at FanSided site, Raising Zona report, reserve signal-caller Mark Sanchez is, in effect, competing against himself, for a roster spot. Brandon Williams, a third-year pick out of Texas A&M in 2016, is the man, for now at the cornerback slot opposite All-Pro Patrick Peterson so getting all the reps he can is essential to the success of the Cardinals’ defense.
As always, this is your game thread, so act accordingly and if any Cardinals fans should happen upon you, be kind to them, always treating them the Broncos way!