Broncos turning to Lynch at QB to end 6-game slide
Denver’s ’16 top pick gets chance; Raiders fire DC Norton Jr.
Former first-round draft pick Paxton Lynch will start at quarterback for the Broncos on Sunday at Oakland, according to multiple reports. Denver coach Vance Joseph is expected to announce his starter today.
General manager John Elway moved up in the 2016 draft to select Lynch with the 26th pick in the first round, but the former Memphis QB was beaten out by seventh-rounder Trevor Siemian for two straight seasons and hasn’t played this year.
Siemian lost his job three weeks ago and Brock Osweiler, who was re-signed when Lynch bruised his throwing shoulder in the preseason, went winless in three starts.
Joseph switched offensive coordinators Monday, replacing Mike McCoy with Bill Musgrave, and gave him orders to simplify the offense.
Raiders: Fired defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. in a staff shake-up during a disappointing season. Coach Jack Del Rio made the announcement Tuesday that Norton was let go and assistant John Pagano will step into the coordinator role leading up to this week’s home game against the Broncos.
Norton was in his third season as coordinator for the Raiders, who are the only team in NFL history to fail to intercept a pass in the season’s first 10 games and rank near the bottom of the league in several categories.
Bills: Coach Sean McDermott isn’t going to be rushed into choosing a starting quarterback this week after his decision to go with rookie Nathan Peterman backfired.
McDermott said he’s still evaluating whether to give Peterman another start or return to Tyrod Taylor for Buffalo’s game at Kansas City this weekend. Peterman unraveled in a loss at the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday by throwing five interceptions in the first half.
Browns: Receiver Josh Gordon, whose promising career was derailed because of substance abuse, will practice with the club today for the first time in 14 months. Gordon was recently reinstated on a conditional basis by Commissioner Roger Goodell after being suspended the past two seasons.
Meantime, starting defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah (broken foot) and tackle Jamie Meder (ankle) were placed on injured reserve.
Rams: Injuries to cornerbacks Kayvon Webster (concussion) and Nickell Robey-Coleman (thigh) could be damaging with the Saints on deck Sunday.
“That definitely is a concern, especially you look at a top offense we’re getting ready to play this week,” coach Sean McVay said.
Falcons: Released talented but troubled cornerback Jalen Collins, who just came off a 10-game suspension for a second violation of the league’s PED policy.
Patriots: Waived defensive end Cassius Marsh, ESPN reports. New England sent 2018 fifth- and seventh-round picks to the Seahawks for Marsh before the season.
Redskins: Left guard Shawn Lauvao (neck) and center Spencer Long (quad) were added to the lengthy list of Redskins done for the season because of injuries.
Late Monday
Falcons 34, (at) Seahawks 31: When it left his foot, Blair Walsh thought his potential tying kick was good and Seattle would be headed to overtime with the chance to erase a questionable decision from earlier in the game.
Walsh was wrong, putting an even greater emphasis on the special teams follies of the Seahawks (6-4) in their three-point loss to Atlanta (6-4). Walsh’s 52-yard attempt in the final seconds fell a few feet short and left coach Pete Carroll to answer for a brazen failed fake field goal just before halftime.
Seattle opted against a 35-yard attempt by Walsh at the end of the first half, even though the kick would have pulled it to within 24-20. Instead, holder Jon Ryan completed a shovel pass to Luke Willson, but Grady Jarrett read the play and tackled Willson for a 4-yard loss.
“It was a chance to make a big play,” Carroll said. “We had a chance to make a touchdown, or get out of bounds if that pops.”
Monday’s Games Tuesday’s Game
Bulls at Lakers: Late
NBA notes
Bucks: Forward Mirza Teletovic is expected to miss four weeks following arthroscopic surgery to repair cartilage in his left knee. He has missed the last six games. The 6-foot-9 Teletovic is averaging 7.1 points in 10 games this season, shooting 46 percent from 3-point range. The Bucks also said center John Henson will miss tonight’s game in Phoenix after a “successful eye procedure.” Guard Matthew Dellavedova also remains out with left knee tendinitis.
Pelicans: Center DeMarcus Cousins said he was protecting a rebound the way all big men are taught when he was ejected for a flagrant foul in Monday’s win against the Thunder. Cousins was called for a flagrant-two foul when he raised his right elbow near Thunder guard Russell Westbrook’s head in the third quarter. Cousins said Westbrook“did a good job of selling” the foul in the way he fell to the floor, holding his head.
Thursday’s Games