5:13pm: It’s now unlikely Siemian suits up and works as the backup, per Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com. Davis is expected to be the No. 2 quarterback against Atlanta. The 27-year-old Davis last played for the Browns last season, going 0-2 as a starter and playing in three games. He signed a one-year, $1.25MM deal with the Broncos after the team cut Mark Sanchez.
4:48pm: With Trevor Siemian still struggling with the injury to his non-throwing shoulder, the Broncos will give Paxton Lynch his first NFL start Sunday, Mike Klis of 9News reports.
Multiple sources informed Klis the first-round pick will start against the Falcons but noted Siemian could be ready to return to the lineup by the time the defending Super Bowl champions face the Chargers on Thursday.
Previous reports had Siemian, who has yet to be ruled out, as a potential game-time decision. The Broncos are reportedly going to air on the side of caution in this case after the starter suffered a sprained AC joint during the second quarter of Denver’s Week 4 win over Tampa Bay. It’s not known if Siemian will dress and be the backup in case of a Lynch injury or if Austin Davis would do so, but Klis notes the Broncos not deeming Siemian healthy enough to start points to them shelving him for the day.
Concern exists within the team whether Siemian’s left shoulder was healthy enough to absorb contact, per Klis, who adds the former Northwestern passer took a few team reps in Friday’s practice.
Gary Kubiak said earlier this week the job will again be Siemian’s once he’s healthy.
Receiving his first game action of the season, Lynch completed 14-of-24 passes for 170 yards and a touchdown against the Buccaneers. The first-round pick’s completion percentage (58.3) was well behind each of Siemian’s this season, with the 2015 seventh-rounder holding a 67.3 completion rate, but supposedly raw quarterback directed the Broncos to three scoring drives after entering late in the first half.
He’ll face a Falcons defense that ranks 30th through four games.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
They should run a lot