Trevor Siemian to start preseason opener vs. Chicago
The Denver Broncos open their preseason schedule on Thursday against the Chicago Bears. Trevor Siemian will be the starting quarterback…
Trevor Siemian started the final game of the 2016-17 season, and he’ll start the preseason opener for the 2017 season.
At a press conference following practice on Monday, Denver Broncos head coach Vance Joseph made clear his intentions with the quarterback position for the first two preseason games.
On Thursday night against the Chicago Bears, it will be Trevor Siemian starting. Next week against the San Francisco 49ers, it’ll be Paxton Lynch getting his shot with the first unit.
Joseph also alluded to the idea that some of the first team players will play some reps with the backup quarterbacks so they can both get some additional ‘first team’ work.
The decision for Siemian to start the preseason opener isn’t a surprising one at all. Siemian showed last year that he’s capable of starting in the NFL, even though he didn’t play at a very high level. The Broncos won a number of games despite some mistakes by Siemian, but they also won a few games because Siemian stepped up and made some big plays.
Last year’s quarterback dilemma was one of the strangest we’ve seen with Peyton Manning retiring and Brock Osweiler not sticking to his end of the plan and bolting for Houston.
Siemian was forced into action after Mark Sanchez unsurprisingly couldn’t win the starting job, and Paxton Lynch was simply far too raw.
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At this point in the Broncos’ quarterback battle, however, it’s an even playing field. Siemian and Lynch are fighting for the job, and no one has seemingly emerged based on reports we’re getting from practices.
Siemian’s greatest advantage at this point is that he doesn’t take too many bad risks when it comes to chucking the ball downfield. He’s much more apt to play it ‘safe’, but even that can get him into trouble at times.
The Broncos were one of the league’s worst teams in 2016 at converting third downs and converting in the red zone. That will be the top area of focus for Siemian and the Broncos’ offense in the preseason opener — can they show that they’ve improved upon last season’s disastrous results?
This will be a great chance for Siemian to make his impression on the coaching staff and front office, and make his case to be the Broncos’ starter.