Reports: Broncos to start Lynch
It’s time to see if quarterback Paxton Lynch is a bust or just a late bloomer.
The Denver Broncos’ 2016 first-round pick will make his first start of the season Sunday at Oakland, according to multiple reports.
The Broncos have lost seven straight and rookie coach Vance Joseph has made moves to jump start the offense, first replacing quarterback Trevor Siemian with Brock Osweiler three weeks ago, then firing offensive coordinator Mike McCoy on Monday.
Now Lynch takes over for Osweiler, who supplanted a turnover prone Siemian (10 interceptions, two lost fumbles) and went winless in three starts.
General manager John Elway moved up in the first round of the 2016 draft to select Lynch with the 26th overall pick, but the former Memphis QB proved to be a project. Siemian, a 2015 seventh-rounder from Northwestern, handily beat out Lynch in 2016 and again this season. Lynch bruised his throwing shoulder in a preseason game, which led to the re-signing of Peyton Manning ’s longtime backup, Osweiler.
Joseph said he wanted new offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave, who guided the Raiders’ offense from 2015-16 and was promoted from quarterbacks coach, to simplify the game plans. McCoy raised eyebrows with his complex game plans.
Lynch went 1-1 last year in place of an injured Siemian, losing to Atlanta and beating Jacksonville. He completed 49 of 83 passes for 497 yards and two touchdowns to go with an interception. He was sacked nine times.
Raiders fire Norton
The Oakland Raiders fired defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. and promoted assistant head coach for defense John Pagano.
This marks the second coordinator change the Raiders have made since finishing last season 12-4 for the franchise’s first playoff berth since 2002. Coach Jack Del Rio fired Musgrave as offensive coordinator last offseason and replaced him with quarterbacks coach Todd Downing.
Norton was on shaky ground even last year and there has been little improvement on defense. The Raiders (4-6) have become the first team in modern NFL history to fail to intercept a single pass in the first 10 games and are tied for the fewest takeaways with six. Oakland has allowed quarterbacks to complete 72.3% of their passes for a 113.3 passer rating, both of which would rank as the second worst of all-time.
Hall semifinalists
Former Rams receivers Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt are among the 27 semifinalists for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
The other semifinalists are Ray Lewis, Randy Moss, Brian Urlacher, Richard Seymour, Steve Hutchinson, Ronde Barber, Steve Atwater, Tony Boselli, Roger Craig, Brian Dawkins, Alan Faneca, Joe Jacoby, Edgerrin James, Ty Law, John Lynch, Kevin Mawae, Karl Mecklenburg, Terrell Owens, Hines Ward, LeRoy Butler, Leslie O’Neal, Simeon Rice, Everson Walls and coaches Jimmy Johnson and Don Coryell.
The 27 will be trimmed to 15 finalists in January. Already chosen as finalists are former Chargers general manager Bobby Beathard as a contributor, and Robert Brazile and Jerry Kramer as senior candidates.
Etc.
The Seattle Seahawks waived veteran defensive end Dwight Freeney four games after signing him to boost their pass rush. Freeney had three sacks in his first two games but no tackles in the last two.