Siemian gets the nod this week
Nkemdiche works out with Cardinals
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Coach Gary Kubiak named Trevor Siemian the starter for the Broncos’ third preseason game over Mark Sanchez and said he will decide next week who will be under center against Carolina for the season opener on Sept. 8.
“It’s down to the nitty gritty here,” Kubiak said. “I don’t have to but I’m going to make a decision next week and we’re going to go to work. I’ve seen a lot of football from them. We’re going to go again this week and we’ll make a decision next week.”
Kubiak said Siemian, Sanchez and rookie Paxton Lynch will play an equal amount Saturday against the Los Angeles Rams.
Siemian and Sanchez ended training camp sharing the No. 1 quarterback spot on the team depth chart but neither has been able to claim the job outright. Both struggled with turnovers in Saturday’s 31-24 loss to San Francisco.
Siemian was 10 of 14 for 75 yards but threw an interception that was picked off by Ed Reid and returned 42 yards for a touchdown.
“I thought Trevor did a good job the other night,” Kubiak said. “Obviously there’s one play he’d like to have back or it would have been as good as it could be. I’m going to give him a chance to do that again.”
Kubiak said Siemian took a shot to his shoulder trying to make a tackle on the play. He said the sore shoulder shouldn’t prevent him from practicing Tuesday or playing Saturday.
Sanchez is the only quarterback on the staff with meaningful regular season experience but he struggled after relieving Siemian on Saturday night. He led the Broncos to a field goal but was sacked three times and fumbled twice. He was 10 of 17 for 120 yards and was nearly picked off by cornerback Chris Davis.
“I squandered a great opportunity to separate myself and put the team in a bad situation,” Sanchez said after the game. “No excuse for that. Poor, poor quarterbacking play.” CHARGERS: The Chargers broke camp but they haven’t broken their stalemate with defensive end Joey Bosa.
The No. 3 overall pick in this year’s draft remained unsigned as the team started preparing Monday for this week’s preseason game at the Minnesota Vikings.
“We will have a plan for him whenever he is here … when he is in the building,” Chargers coach Mike McCoy said.
CARDINALS: First-round draft pick Robert Nkemdiche worked out on a limited basis Monday, the first time he has practiced in training camp.
The 6-foot-4, 296-pound defensive tackle has been sidelined with a high ankle sprain since he was injured in rookie camp on July 26, three days before the first regular training camp workout.
Coach Bruce Arians said it shouldn’t take too long for Nkemdiche to catch up with his teammates.
“He’s been to all the meetings,” Arians said. “He should know what gap to get in.”
49ERS: After being kept from throwing during team drills since Aug. 10 while nursing a sore shoulder, quarterback Colin Kaepernick threw against the defense on Monday.
Kaepernick is on track to make his preseason debut Friday against the Packers.
BILLS: Buffalo tackle Seantrel Henderson has been cleared for practice in taking the next step since having two operations on parts of his intestines to reduce the effects of Crohn’s disease.
PACKERS: Jordy Nelson’s return to practice was greeted with big cheers as the Packers got one of their big playmakers back.
Nelson, who missed all of last season with a knee injury, was limited to individual drills Monday. His goal is simple in his long-awaited comeback: Be ready to play this year’s season opener on the road against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sept. 11.
“Obviously, there’s prep that goes into the season with the training camp,” Nelson said, “but the important stuff is the games, when it really matters.” EAGLES: Philadelphia signed veteran middle linebacker Stephen Tulloch.
Tulloch will compete with Jordan Hicks for a starting job. The 31-year-old Tulloch is familiar with defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz. He played for him in Tennessee and Detroit.
Tulloch has started at least 15 games in five of the past six seasons.
The Eagles lost rookie linebacker Joe Walker for the season because of a torn ACL.
REDSKINS: Washington running back Matt Jones will miss the rest of the preseason with a left shoulder injury.
COLTS: Indianapolis fortified an injury-filled secondary Monday by signing veteran cornerback Antonio Cromartie.