The Broncos have laid out their quarterback plan for the first two preseason games.
Trevor Siemian will start under center against the Bears this Thursday (8 p.m. ET on NFL Network) while 2016 first-round pick Paxton Lynch will start the following week against the 49ers in Santa Clara, Denver coach Vance Joseph told reporters Monday.
The news is slightly surprising given how well Siemian has performed in camp this preseason so far, but it also has to be considered the best possible scenario for Lynch. With the regular season still more than a month away, Lynch could use the second preseason game as a chance to make his case for the all-important third preseason game.
Earlier this week, Palmer noted that there was a distinct separation at practice between Siemian, who started 14 games for the Broncos last year, and Lynch.
"You saw after Lynch had a couple of struggling reps, Trevor Siemian comes in, runs the play action, throws a dime into the quarter of the end zone for a touchdown," Palmer said. "The next play, play action, would have been a touchdown, but was] dropped by tight end [Jeff Heuerman in the end zone. Siemian looking just more poised in the spot."
Denver has been waiting for the moment when Lynch's untapped potential surpasses Siemian's sound play and knowledge of the offense. At this point, it hasn't happened yet. Just as Lynch has the opportunity to climb back into the race next week, Siemian could deliver a pretty decisive blow against a touch-and-go Bears secondary this week in Chicago.
