Super Bowl champs ready to get started

Team unsettled at QB, though Broncos defense stays intact.

ENGLEWOOD, COLO. — The Super Bowl champs begin training camp today with major questions on both sides of the ball, beginning with who will be the one throwing it.

General manager John Elway declared the Denver Broncos’ quarterback competition wide open. Coach Gary Kubiak said he’ll split snaps between Mark Sanchez, Trevor Siemian and Paxton Lynch, beginning — but not set — in that order.

“Gary is very seasoned at that position, so I know he’s going to handle it the right way and we’ll find the right guy,” Elway said.

There are also unknowns on defense, such as when star cornerback Aqib Talib and pass-rusher DeMarcus Ware will be cleared to practice. Both are starting out on the non-football injury list, Ware after aggravating a bad back in the offseason and Talib after suffering a gunshot wound to his right leg.

While acknowledging it’s hard to top a Super Bowl triumph, Elway said he expects his offense to be better this year no matter who wins the quarterback job. He insisted his standards don’t dip just because he doesn’t have an elite passer. Kubiak has said “we should know a lot more in about a week” about who has the inside track to the job, but he declined to say how deep into camp he’s willing to hold open the audition.

The winner gets to direct an offense that Elway reconstructed this offseason following Denver’s 24-10 win over Carolina in Super Bowl 50 and the departures of Peyton Manning (retirement) and Brock Osweiler (free agency). The Broncos have just four offensive starters from the Super Bowl returning to their same position: center Matt Paradis, running back C.J. Anderson and wide receivers Emmanuel Sanders and Demaryius Thomas.

“I think we can be better offensively,” Elway said, citing the return to health of some players and better familiarity in Year 2 under Kubiak, who no longer has to operate a hybrid offense to accommodate Manning.

Led by linebackers Von Miller and Brandon Marshall, who signed big contracts this summer, the defense returns all but two starters. Elway said he trusts the Broncos have the depth to seamlessly replace Malik Jackson and Danny Trevathan, who left in free agency.

Kubiak said Talib should be back in action “real soon,” though possible NFL punishment and legal ramifications hang over the cornerback who was shot in his leg in Dallas on June 5. Police are investigating whether he accidentally shot himself.

Elway met face-to-face with Miller on Wednesday for the first time since contract negotiations that grew contentious before Miller signed a deal that guarantees him $70 million, a record for a non-quarterback.

MICHAEL ZITO / AP Linebacker Von Miller fought for a new contract and got one that guarantees him $70 million, the most ever for a player who is not a quarterback.