NELSON MAY STEP INTO SPOTLIGHT
Broncos quarterback Trevor Siemian told Denver Sports 760 AM, a partnering radio station of the team, that he is “making some progress” toward a return.
“I think I’m getting better every day,” Siemian said. “(I’m) trying to do some different things this week and see how it holds up. I think I’m making some headway and we’ll see how it ends up.”
Siemian is no longer wearing the protective boot on his left foot, and coach Gary Kubiak on Monday said he is hopeful his quarterback will be able to play Sunday at Tennessee.
“If it was up to me, I’d try to be out there every day doing something,” Siemian said. “But, again, this is a day-to-day thing, and that’s how we’re taking it. We’ll come in (Wednesday morning) and see how I’m doing and listen to Greek (head athletic trainer Steve Antonopulos), and he’ll take care of me.”
WR adjustments.
Since Demaryius Thomas entered the league in 2010, he was forced to adjust among multiple quarterbacks in a season. First, it was Kyle Orton and Tim Tebow. Last year, it was Peyton Manning and Brock Osweiler. And mostly recently, it has been Siemian and Paxton Lynch.
“It’s a little different because you’re so used to going with one guy and then you have to switch over to another one,” Thomas said. “Still, it’s basically doing your job as a receiver and putting the pressure on him to do his job as a quarterback. My job was to get open and give him a throw (to make).”
Thomas’ numbers have been hindered, in part, by the various offensive changes over the past two seasons. But he says his focus remains singular.
“All guys are different,” he said. “They all (throw) different balls — some throw further than others. It’s different with every quarterback. From my standpoint, my job is getting open and getting my quarterback a throw.”
Fighting fatigue.
Kubiak said after Sunday’s game at Jacksonville that he sensed fatigue from his players, coming off a fivequarter loss to Kansas City in a night game the previous Sunday and a lengthy plane trip to Florida.
As they prepare for the Titans, the Broncos will have a walkthrough in the indoor fieldhouse Wednesday instead of full practices to keep players fresh.
“I’m looking at it,” he said. “We had come off a lot of football against Kansas City. We had a long trip. We played 85 plays on defense — a lot of football there. I think late in the year, you have to look at it week to week. That’s what I try to do.”
Footnotes.
According to ESPN’s Adam Caplan, the Broncos worked out 12 players Tuesday, including quarterbacks Sean Renfree and T.J. Yates, running backs Bernard Pierce and Zac Brooks, and wide receiver Keshawn Martin. … Four more teams can clinch playoff berths this week. In one scenario, the Raiders can clinch with a victory at Kansas City on Thursday and a Broncos loss on Sunday. … New Broncos running back Justin Forsett arrived in Colorado on Tuesday.