The defending Super Bowl champions’ No. 1 and No. 2 quarterbacks very well could have one NFL snap between the two of them when the Broncos open the season against Carolina on Sept. 8.
Second-year player Trevor Siemian, whose only snap as a rookie was a kneel-down, is the leader in the clubhouse for the starting job. He’s slated to start Saturday in Denver’s third preseason game against the Broncos. And now it’s possible rookie Paxton Lynch passes Mark Sanchez on the team’s depth chart.
Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak was asked how much previous experience played a factor in the quarterback race. Here’s what he said, per ESPN's Jeff Legwold:
“Zero. I’m looking at what’s taken place the last six months. How they’ve handled themselves, how they’ve handled the team and how they respond to things. That’s what I’m looking at.”
Well then.
Lynch has looked good playing alongside other reserve players in his first two preseason games. He’s completed 21 of 33 passes for 187 yards, two touchdowns and one interception (that wasn’t really his fault) so far. Sanchez, meanwhile, has struggled with turnover issues that have plagued him throughout his career. He’s thrown a pick and fumbled twice.
It sure sounds like if Siemian and Lynch continue to outperform Sanchez, Kubiak will have no problem going forward with them as the starting and backup quarterbacks. Which might be a little terrifying for Broncos fans because, again, they’ve played one combined NFL snap.
Sanchez might not even be on the roster if he’s the No. 3 guy. As explained Wednesday, cutting him prior to Sept. 3 would save the team $3.4 million and allow them to keep their seventh-round pick in the upcoming NFL Draft.
That would be quite the turnaround for Sanchez, who was the favorite to get the starting job when the Broncos traded for him in March. Things started off promising enough — Sanchez said and did all the rights things — but now could end horribly for him. Who would've thought?
