BRONCOS STICK WITH SIEMIAN
Cowboys Elliott granted at least one more game
Benching quarterback Trevor Siemian is not the answer to a troubled offense, the Broncos say.
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Trevor Siemian is keeping his starting job as the Denver Broncos try to emerge from a prolonged offensive funk that has plunged them to depths not reached in a quarter century.
Coach Vance Joseph said Monday that benching Siemian isn’t the solution for the team’s myriad problems that have resulted in just one touchdown in their last 35 possessions.
The Broncos (3-3) were blanked 21-0 by the Chargers on Sunday, snapping their 394-game scoring streak that dated to Nov. 30, 1992. It was the longest active streak in the NFL and second-longest in league history.
Denver has now managed just 16, 10, 16 and 0 points in their last four games.
Joseph said the blame for the monthlong funk falls on coaches, linemen, receivers, tight ends, running backs and even poor special teams decisions that are putting Siemian in precarious positions.
“He can’t play well if he’s not being protected in certain spots,” Joseph said. “Now, he hasn’t been perfect, either. He can play better, absolutely. But it’s not a Trevor problem; it’s a unit problem.”
Joseph reiterated that the formula that works for Denver is to establish the run and get a lead, something the Broncos haven’t been able to do.
So, Brock Osweiler isn’t the answer.
“It doesn’t matter who the quarterback is if he’s not being protected or the run game is not effective,” Joseph said.
The rookie coach said he’s puzzled by how the Broncos can prepare so well during the week and play so poorly on game day.
“We have to coach and play better,” he said. “Something is not clicking with our players as far as doing things right. So we have to coach differently. We have to do more walk-throughs and spend more time on the field so we can get this thing rectified.”
COWBOYS: Running back Ezekiel Elliott will play at least one more game before another ruling from a federal judge on his six-game suspension over domestic violence allegations.
U.S. District Judge Katherine Polk Failla in an order posted Monday turned down the NFL’s request for an expedited hearing on a preliminary injunction. She set one for Oct. 30, a day after the Cowboys visit Washington.
BROWNS: Joe Thomas won’t play again this season.
The perennial Pro Bowl left tackle — and iron man — tore his left triceps Sunday against Tennessee, and an MRI taken on Monday confirmed the severity of an injury that has dealt another devastating blow to an already floundering franchise.
Thomas said he’ll probably have surgery today and he’s been told that he’ll need 6 to 9 months to make a full recovery. The 32-year-old, who is under contract for one more year, said he’s been too focused on surgery to consider whether he’ll continue his career. TEXANS: Veteran left tackle Duane Brown ended his holdout on Monday after missing the team’s first six games.
Brown, who has two years remaining on his contract, had sought a new deal which he did not receive.
The three-time Pro Bowler has been the team’s starter since he was drafted in the first round in 2008. DOLPHINS: Quarterback Jay Cutler has multiple cracked ribs, making it unlikely he’ll play Thursday at Baltimore, coach Adam Gase said Monday.
Matt Moore is expected to start in Cutler’s place after coming off the bench Sunday to lead a 31-28 comeback victory against the New York Jets.
COLTS: Pro Bowl receiver T.Y. Hilton has apologized to his teammates after criticizing Indianapolis’ offensive line.
After Sunday’s 27-0 loss to Jacksonville, Hilton said the linemen need to take more pride in protecting quarterback Jacoby Brissett. The Colts gave up 10 sacks, an Indianapolis era record, and 20 quarterback hits.
VIKINGS: The NFL has suspended Vikings safety Andrew Sendejo for one game for violating player safety rules in Sunday’s win against the Ravens. Sendejo’s hit on Ravens receiver Mike Wallace on Baltimore’s seconds series of the game was directly to the head.
RAIDERS: Marshawn Lynch presented his appeal to the NFL on Monday to overturn his one-game suspension for bumping an official and Oakland coach Jack Del Rio hopes to get a resolution soon.
“We expect to hear something early in the week,” Del Rio said. “Hopefully by tomorrow would be the fairest thing for the team to prepare.”
Lynch was suspended for next Sunday’s game at Buffalo without pay for coming off the sideline during a scuffle in the second quarter and then shoving a game official during Oakland’s 31-30 victory over Kansas City last Thursday night. The ban will cost him more than $100,000 in salary and per game roster bonuses.