Schefter: ‘Signs point’ to Lynch starting for Broncos Sunday

Denver Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak said Monday that Trevor Siemian, who suffered a sprained non-throwing shoulder in the team’s win Sunday over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, is the team’s starting quarterback and “hopefully he is going to be OK.”

It’s that “hopefully” part that could crack the door open for Paxton Lynch to start Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons.

On with “Schlereth and Evans” Thursday, ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter said he believes Kubiak and the Broncos have made it “very clear” they want Siemian to play against the Falcons, and the second-year quarterback too wants to be on the field.

But, in the end, Siemian may not be healthy enough to lead the Broncos out of the tunnel at Mile High Stadium Sunday.

“I think Gary has made it very clear. They’re preparing as if Trevor Siemian will play. Trevor Siemian wants to play. They want him to play,” Schefter said. “But when you look at it I think the signs point to Paxton Lynch starting just right now.”

Siemian said after practice Wednesday that he felt better than previous days, but he did not participate in practice.

Kubiak said he planned to hold Siemian out more because Lynch needed the reps in practice to be ready for Sunday in case he does start. Siemian, the head coach said, didn’t need those reps.

“We’ll give him another day of rest and see where he’s at tomorrow and see how much we get done tomorrow,” Kubiak said Wednesday. “It was pretty much planned. I expected him not to practice today.”

Siemain said he had not yet tested playing through the injury, which Kubiak said Monday is a combination of pain management and mechanical issues.

“He’s just really sore, just going through that motion and going through the throwing motion,” Kubiak said. “Throwing the ball is not going to be a problem; it’s how does it feel when he moves his whole trunk. We’ll have to see.”

Schefter said it’s a matter of Siemian progression day to day in feeling healthier that will likely determine his fate Sunday.

“The guy’s just not healthy right now,” Schefter said. “And it’s not serious, and they want to see progress, and maybe he’ll make that progress today and tomorrow and Saturday and be able to play Sunday. It’s what everybody wants. I just don’t if it’s realistic to have that happen.”

Siemian injured the non-throwing shoulder during a sack by Buccaneers defensive tackle Clinton McDonald Sunday just before the end of the first half.

To that point in the game, Siemian had gone 5-of-7 for 68 yards and a touchdown. In relief, Lynch completed 14 of his 27 passes for 170 yards and a touchdown.

Follow digital content producer Johnny Hart on Twitter: @johnnyhart7.