It's tough to hold a true quarterback competition during organized team activities and minicamp season. In Denver, the real news is that there will be a competition at all.
Broncos coach Gary Kubiak has called his quarterback position a three-way battle between Mark Sanchez, rookie Paxton Lynch and Trevor Siemian. They are splitting reps evenly and that doesn't figure to change soon. Sanchez is logically the heavy favorite and Siemian figures to be a heavy underdog. But people smarter than me, from Kubiak to cornerback Chris Harris to ESPN's Jeff Legwold, insist that Siemian has a chance. That's an upset in itself.
Here are nine other takeaways from this week's OTA session. You can read the NFC takeaways here:
- Third-year Broncos undrafted player Todd Davis undoubtedly now looks like the favorite to replace Danny Trevathan at inside linebacker, something we only guessed about last month. Unprompted, defensive coordinator Wade Phillips talked up Davis this week, and then compared his intensity to Chris Spielman.
- Chargers running back Melvin Gordon is back on the field after microfracture surgery in January. That helps support the team's stance that Gordon's surgery was not that serious. That's the good news. The bad news is he reportedly did not look close to 100 percent yet.
- Second-year Dolphins defensive tackle Jordan Phillips is getting a chance to unseat Earl Mitchell for one starting job.
- In a delicious bit of news for Dolphins fans, Cameron Wake was back in team drills for the first time at OTAs. As he returns from a torn Achilles tendon, there is some belief the team could use Wake as a situational pass rusher early in the season as he eases back into the lineup. Andre Branch and Jason Jones give the team depth at the position.
The team also sounds encouraged about the progress of left tackle Branden Albert, who is in the stereotypical "best shape of his life." Albert was the team's best player two years ago. If he's truly back, the Dolphins have a good problem with rookie Laremy Tunsil headed to left guard. Albert is confident.
"I'm the left tackle of this team," Albert said this week via the Miami Herald.
- The Jets are taking a big risk betting on Ryan Clady to take over their left tackle job after missing two of the last three seasons. He's back in team drills as he recovers from a torn ACL.
- In less optimistic injury rehabilitation news, Sammy Watkinsadmitted to Bills reporters that "nobody knows" his timetable to return from foot injury.
- Browns coach Hue Jackson didn't name a starting quarterback coming out of OTAs. The team made a strong statement, though, by giving Robert Griffin III most of the first team reps throughout the last three weeks. One Cleveland reporter said that Josh McCown looked most ready to start now, but it's clear that RGIII has the leg up for the job.
- Browns tight end Gary Barnidge's sports hernia surgery is a bummer. It is an injury that can be tricky to recover from, and the team needs as many healthy weapons as possible. Barnidge re-signed with the Browns on a surprisingly affordable contract this offseason.
- Titans coach Mike Mularkey is trying to talk tough at receiver. He said Dorial Green-Beckham isn't guaranteed a starting job, and he publicly challenged Justin Hunter to be more aggressive going after the ball. With Kendall Wright, Harry Douglas and Rishard Matthews in the mix, Hunter might not be a lock to make the team.
