Trevor Siemian may be expecting to resume his chores as starting quarterback though he needs to work for that once more. The Denver Broncos do have Paxton Lynch who could show up the 25-year-old though it all depends on what coach Vance Joseph sees.
The Broncos will hold their first practice on Thursday with Siemian getting the first crack as a starter and then Lynch, a familiar pattern Denver does for its offseason program. It will be a long spring for Siemian and Lynch though the final decision will not be known until the summer.
Starting job is Siemian to lose
One thing working for Siemian is that he did impress during the 2016-17 NFL season. He was under a lot of pressure, trying to fill in the shoes of Peyton Manning who opted to retire after Super Bowl 50.
Siemian found himself inheriting the job when erstwhile Manning successor Brock Osweiler elected to move to the Houston Texans. Apparently, the move was a blessing in disguise for the Broncos with Osweiler turning out to be a disappointment. He was eventually traded to the Cleveland Browns after one dismal season in Houston.
For the Broncos, giving Siemian the opportunity turned out quite well. He did have highlights for the 2016 NFL season, including being the first quarterback in NFL history to throw 300 yards and completed four touchdowns with no interceptions against the Cincinnati Bengals.
The Broncos did not make the playoffs but the performance of Siemian was something to look forward to. In fact, his 18-10 touchdown-to-interception ratio outperformed the tandem of Manning and Osweiler during the 2015 season.
Lynch knocking on the door
While Siemian seems to have proven his worth, he cannot sit back and relax.
Paxton Lynch is looking to impress as well. He did show promise towards the end of the offseason program so Joseph could give him more opportunities to show what he can do. But would it be enough for him to land a starting role?
Lynch is technically still a work-in-progress, meaning he still needs polishing. He has shown to have the talent for the game though most know that throwing the ball downfield is not all that counts.
Like most budding players, Lynch has to show Joseph and the Broncos coaching staff wise decision-making and the ability to handle pressure. That is perhaps one department Siemian holds over him though anything can change if Joseph sees the potential.
Lynch is a fighter but needs to play wisely. He did get sacked six times, a record for a Broncos rookie. Tough as nails, the 23-year-old needs to play wise since he is of no use if he ends up getting a concussion and thus spending more time in sick bay.
