Denver Broncos: Chad Kelly to start in preseason finale
By Tylor Walden
With the starters getting Thursday’s preseason finale off, the team has decided that backup quarterback Chad Kelly will start in the finale against Arizona.
With Case Keenum the opening day starter against the Seattle Seahawks, he will be sitting out for the preseason finale on Thursday. Chad Kelly will get another chance to make his case for the backup quarterback job.
Vance Joseph announced on Monday that the second year quarterback will be starting in the preseason finale against the Arizona Cardinals on Thursday at University of Phoenix Stadium. Joseph says the plan is to have Kelly play the first half while third string quarterback Paxton Lynch will play the entire second half.
This comes as no surprise. Chad Kelly will get a chance to secure his case that he is in fact the backup quarterback to Case Keenum. Nothing indicates that Kelly’s roster spot is in danger. He’s had a solid preseason thus far.
His performance against the Washington Redskins last Friday was decent. It was the first game in which he did not throw a touchdown. But he did lead the team down the field for three scoring drives. From the drives he had, there were some things that could be improved. However, it seemed that Vance Joseph saw enough that they decided to put Paxton Lynch early in the fourth quarter.
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This game will give Chad Kelly some more experience. Broncos Country and the coaching staff will get to see their backup quarterback for 30 minutes. Getting an entire half to himself will answer some questions, if not already answered, about what he can do.
If he performs well during this game, I would not be surprised to see Paxton Lynch go in earlier than expected. And by then, Broncos Country will have a good idea of how it will all play out once roster moves are made.