Broncos to start Sanchez at QB
Mark Sanchez will be the starting quarterback for the Broncos’ preseason opener in Chicago on Thursday night.
Coach Gary Kubiak on Wednesday gave Sanchez the start over Trevor Siemian, who is listed as the co-No. 1 quarterback on the team’s depth chart. The Broncos plan to have Sanchez play the first quarter and Siemian play the second. Rookie Paxton Lynch is slotted to play the second half.
Sanchez was expected to step in as the No. 1 quarterback after Denver acquired him from Philadelphia in the spring. However, the eight-year veteran hasn’t done enough in practice to win the job outright. In other news: • Tight end Jimmy Graham has been activated off the physically unable to perform list by the Seattle Seahawks, another step in his recovery from his major knee injury last season. Graham went through a light practice Wednesday. It was his first time on the field with his teammates since Week 12 of last season when he tore the patellar tendon in his right knee in a game against Pittsburgh.
• The Browns will be without Baylor ex Corey Coleman, their top rookie receiver, for their first exhibition game against Green Bay. Coleman hasn’t practiced since last week after injuring his hamstring, according to coach Hue Jackson.
• Bills rookie linebacker Reggie Ragland will have surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left knee, and coach Rex Ryan said he expects Ragland to miss the entire season.