Siemian to start Broncos’ 3rd exhibition
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 Sept. 8.
“It’s down to the nitty gritty here,” Kubiak said Monday. “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.
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 regularseason 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.
The Broncos traded for Sanchez after Peyton Manning retired and Brock Osweiler signed with the Texans.
Packers’ Nelson has first practice
Jordy Nelson’s return to practice was greeted with big cheers as the Green Bay Packers got one of their big playmakers back.
At least for a little bit of practice.
Nelson, who missed all of last season with a knee injury, was limited to individual drills and primarily ran routes on air and caught passes from Aaron Rodgers and rookie backups Joe Callahan and Marquise Williams. His goal is simple in his longawaited comeback: Be ready to play this year’s season opener on the road against Jacksonville on Sept. 11.
The Packers activated Nelson, entering his ninth year, from the physically unable to perform list last week after he had been out with an injury to his other knee. Nelson, who tore the ACL in his right knee in a preseason game last summer at Pittsburgh, doesn’t know if he will be cleared to play any of the Packers’ remaining two exhibition games.
Giants sign kicker Bullock
The New York Giants signed kicker Randy Bullock and waived free agent Tom Obarski.
The Giants signed a veteran with Josh Brown suspended for the regular-season opener against Dallas on Sept. 11.
The NFL suspended Brown last week for violating its personal conduct policy. He had been arrested in May 2015 on a fourth-degree domestic violence allegation. The King County prosecutor in Washington did not file a charge, citing insufficient evidence.
The Giants considered going with Obarski in the opener, but he missed a 27-yard field-goal attempt this past weekend.
Bullock, 26, is entering his fourth season, having previously kicked for the Texans and the Jets.
Odds and ends
After being kept from throwing during team drills since Aug. 10 while nursing a sore shoulder, 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick threw against the defense Monday. He is on track to make his preseason debut Friday against the visiting Green Bay Packers. …
The Indianapolis Colts fortified an injury-filled secondary by signing veteran cornerback Antonio Cromartie. The 6-2, 210-pound Cromartie has 31 interceptions and 115 passes defensed in 10 seasons that started in San Diego. …
New York Jets rookie linebacker Jordan Jenkins left practice with a calf injury, the severity of which was not immediately known. Jenkins, a third-round draft pick out of Georgia, is considered a front-runner to open the season as a starter at outside linebacker. …
Panthers Pro Bowl tight end Greg Olsen returned to practice after missing Saturday’s preseason game against Tennessee with back spasms. Coach Ron Rivera hasn’t ruled out Olsen for Friday night’s game against the New England Patriots.