JOSEPH LAYS OUT PLAN FOR PRESEASON OPENER
Broncos coach Vance Joseph has a clear plan in place for how he intends to use his quarterbacks and starters in Thursday night’s preseason opener at Chicago.
The starting defense, including pass rusher Von Miller, will play a maximum of three series to begin the game.
“It depends on how it goes,” Joseph said. “If they go out there and play a dominant series, they may play one. If they have a so-so series in the first and a better series in the second series, they’ll only play two. But three max.”
On offense, Trevor Siemian was named the starting quarterback against the Bears, and Paxton Lynch was named the starter for the second preseason game against San Francisco. Each quarterback, Joseph said, will play about a quarter and a half.
Starting running back C.J. Anderson will follow the script of the defense and play a maximum of three series. Veteran Stevan Ridley, rookie De’Angelo Henderson and Juwan Thompson will finish out the game. Veteran Jamaal Charles, who took more reps in practice Tuesday as the team moved back outside, will not play at Chicago.
“We want to stay with the plan for Jamaal and just give him more and more reps as we go along,” Joseph said. “Being inside (Monday), we didn’t want him on the turf that much with his history. Back on the grass, we gave him more reps.”
The starting offensive line Thursday will consist of Garett Bolles at left tackle, Max Garcia at left guard, Connor McGovern at center, Ron Leary at right guard and Menelik Watson at right tackle. Matt Paradis, still easing his way back from two hip surgeries this year, will not play.
Injury updates.
Joseph said inside linebacker Todd Davis will not play at Chicago because of the sprained shoulder that has kept him out of practices. Davis did not work out with the team Tuesday morning, and Joseph said his availability in preseason could be limited because of the injury.
“His timeline, it’s day to day,” Joseph said. “It’s more precautionary for Todd than a concern.”
Corey Nelson will start with Davis sidelined.
“Corey is on the lines of (cornerback Bradley) Roby,” Joseph said. “He’s our third inside linebacker, our starting dime player. So, in my opinion, Corey is a starter. On most teams, Corey would be a starter. If he had to play for us, I would have no problem with Corey being the (regular-season) starter for us.”
As for other injured or recovering players, running back Bernard Pierce (hamstring) did not practice Tuesday and safety T.J. Ward (hamstring) observed from the sideline. Joseph said Monday that Ward will not play Thursday.
Emergency plan.
The Broncos opened Tuesday’s practice by working on their contingency plans on special teams.
Defensive end Billy Winn stepped in as the emergency long snapper, Siemian took over for Riley Dixon as the emergency holder, and then Dixon dropped back as kicker. On punts, kicker Brandon McManus filled the emergency slot. McManus served as placekicker and punter and handled kickoffs while in college at Temple.
Footnotes.
According to ESPN, Bears quarterback Mike Glennon is expected to start Thursday’s game against the Broncos and will probably play a series or two. Mark Sanchez, a familiar face in Denver after last year’s quarterback competition, and rookie Mitchell Trubisky will play the rest of the game. … Special-teams coordinator Brock Olivo was asked if Miller could seriously return punts. “We could probably put Von back there alone,” Olivo said jokingly. “I don’t think there’s anything Von Miller can’t do. He’s a great dancer, too.” … Joseph said offensive coordinator Mike McCoy and defensive coordinator Joe Woods will wear headsets on the sideline.