Siemian back as Denver QB
Lynch out injured; NFL suspends Talib, Raiders’ Crabtree.
The Broncos emerged from their latest loss in need of yet another change at quarterback, the prospect of the longest starting streak among D-linemen coming to a halt, losing one of their defensive tone-setters to a neck injury and a top cornerback punished by the league for fighting.
Trevor Siemian emerged from the revolving door of Broncos quarterbacks as the starter again following Paxton Lynch’s dismal 2017 debut that ended with him in a walking boot and crying on the sideline.
Coach Vance Joseph said Lynch will miss two to four weeks with a high right ankle sprain he sustained Sunday in Denver’s loss at Oakland.
So, Siemian gets his job back Sunday when Denver (3-8) visits Miami.
Nose tackle Domata Peko is facing the prospect of missing a game for the first time since 2009. His 123-game streak is in jeopardy because of a sprained left MCL that Joseph said will sideline him a week or two.
“That’s for normal people,” said Peko, holding out hope because he’s a fast healer. “I’m doing everything I can. I’m going straight from here to the doctor’s office to get some rehab going.”
The Broncos were waiting on MRI results after defensive end Derek Wolfe left the game with a neck injury.
“Our concern is for his health and well-being. If it’s not right, we’ll shut him down,” Joseph said.
Meanwhile, Denver cornerback Aqib Talib and Oakland receiver Michael Crabtree were suspended two games each without pay for fighting. Jon Runyan, NFL vice president of football operations, announced the suspensions a day after the players brawled during the game. Both players can appeal the suspensions.
The fight was a continuation of a dispute that started last season when Talib ripped Crabtree’s chain off during the season finale. Crabtree missed the first game between the teams this year but didn’t wait long to seek revenge.
Crabtree punched Denver cornerback Chris Harris Jr. while blocking him on the first play of Oakland’s second drive. He then aggressively blocked Talib on a running play and drove him to the ground on the Broncos’ sideline on the following play, starting the brawl.
Steelers: A highlight performance by receiver Antonio Brown and Chris Boswell’s 53-yard field goal on the final snap gave Pittsburgh a 31-28 victory over Green Bay on Sunday night.
Brown hauled in a 1-yard rainbow from Ben Roethlisberger in the third quarter to tie the score, sprinted 33 yards down the sideline to put the Steelers in front in the fourth quarter and made a 23-yard toe-drag catch to help set up Boswell’s winner.
“I guess with all due respect I’m not surprised or amazed,” Roethlisberger said of Brown. “It’s what he does.”
The Steelers (9-2) won their sixth straight when Boswell’s drive into the closed end of Heinz Field stayed inside the left upright. Pittsburgh kept pace with New England in the race for the best AFC record and inched closer to a fourth straight playoff berth by avoiding a meltdown against a seemingly overmatched opponent.
The Packers (5-6) were missing quarterback Aaron Rodgers, running back Ty Montgomery and linebacker Clay Matthews.
Seahawks: The team will be without strong safety Kam Chancellor for the rest of the season due to a neck injury he suffered earlier this month. Coach Pete Carroll was unclear about Chancellor returning in the future, saying, “It’s really up to him.”
49ers: Coach Kyle Shanahan said he is waiting to see how C.J. Beathard recovers from the hip and knee injuries before deciding whether he or Jimmy Garoppolo will start at quarterback.
Dolphins: Defensive end William Hayes will likely miss the rest of the season with a back injury that sidelined him Sunday, but quarterback Jay Cutler (concussion) might return this week.
Lions: Safety Tavon Wilson went on injured reserve and will have shoulder surgery, while receiver Bradley Marquez and safety Rolan Milligan joined the active roster from the practice squad.
Giants: Four more players went on injured reserve — offensive lineman D.J. Fluker (toe), cornerback Donte Deayon (forearm) and linebackers Curtis Grant (knee) and Deontae Skinner (hamstring) — bringing the team’s season total to 19.
Patriots: Tight end Martellus Bennett (hamstring/ shoulder) and special teamer Nate Ebner (knee) went on injured reserve.
Bills: The team confirmed receiver Kelvin Benjamin has torn cartilage in his right knee, but he’s still day to day.
Sunday’s Games Monday’s Games
Cavaliers 113, (at) 76ers 91: LeBron James had 30 points, 13 rebounds and six assists as Cleveland won its eighth in a row. Center Joel Embiid had 30 points and 11 rebounds for Philadelphia. Guard Ben Simmons had just 10 points before exiting in the fourth quarter with a sprained right ankle.
(At) Pacers 121, Magic 109: Victor Oladipo scored 26 and Bojan Bogdanovic added 22 as Indiana gave Orlando its ninth straight loss. Oladipo, who missed the last game with a bruised right knee, made his first 11 shots and finished 11 for 14. Jonathan Simmons scored 21 for the Magic.
Pistons 118, (at) Celtics 108: Tobias Harris scored 31 points and Andre Drummond had season highs of 26 points and 22 rebounds for Detroit. The Pistons ended Boston’s eight-game home win streak. Marcus Smart scored a seasonhigh 23 and went 6 of 9 from 3-point range for the Celtics.
Trail Blazers 103, (at) Knicks 91: Damian Lillard scored 32 for Portland, which led by 26 to start the fourth quarter. Kristaps Porzingis scored 22 points for New York.
(At) Rockets 117, Nets 103: James Harden scored 20 of his 37 points in the first quarter and added 10 rebounds and eight assists as Houston won its fifth straight.
(At) Spurs 115, Mavericks 108: LaMarcus Aldridge had a season-high 33 points and 10 rebounds, and Tony Parker had six points and four assists in 14 minutes in his first game of the season for San Antonio. Parker had not played since tearing his right quadriceps tendon in a May 3 playoff game. Lakers at Clippers: Late
Kings at Warriors: Late
NBA note
Grizzlies: Memphis fired coach David Fizdale, with the team at 7-12 and a day after he benched star center Marc Gasol for the fourth quarter of an eighth straight loss. Assistant J.B. Bickerstaff was named interim coach. Fizdale, a former Miami Heat assistant, went 50-51 in Memphis.
Today’s Games