Schefter: Broncos playoff fate ‘rests in hands of Paxton Lynch’

Instead of a helmet and pads, Denver Broncos quarterback Trevor Siemian sported a walking boot Wednesday as the team prepared to face the Jacksonville Jaguars on the road Sunday.

Siemian suffered a foot sprain in the team’s 30-27 overtime loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, and head coach Gary Kubiak said he’ll be day-to-day leading up to this weekend’s tilt.

And on Thursday, joining 104.3 The Fan’s “Schlereth and Evans,” ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter said when he reads between the lines and in talking with people, he believes it’ll be Paxton Lynch who’ll be under center Sunday for his second career start.

“That’s a huge development because you’re on the road, you take a rookie quarterback on the road, the challenge becomes infinitely more difficult to win with a rookie quarterback,” Schefter said.

And Lynch will be thrown into a critically important stretch of the Broncos season, one in which Denver will likely need to nearly win out to secure a playoff spot.

“I think that the Denver Broncos playoff fate now rests in the hands of Paxton Lynch, which is interesting because they’re in a situation where they cannot afford many more losses,” Schefter said.

Lynch has seen action this season in two games, going 14-of-24 for 170 yards and one touchdown in relief of Siemian against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and 23-of-35 for 223 yards, one touchdown and one interception the following week in a loss at home to the Atlanta Falcons.

In the Falcons game, Lynch’s only career start, Schefter said the rookie first-rounder played OK and didn’t hurt the Broncos, but perhaps didn’t really help them either.

And Lynch admitted after practice Wednesday that he feels “a lot more comfortable” now than in Week 5 against Atlanta and said he’ll be ready to lead Denver onto the field Sunday if called upon.

“It’s day-to-day, and I know that Trevor is working hard to get back out there. I’m taking the reps as I get them right now. If I have to play on Sunday, I’ll be ready,” Lynch said.

However, Schefter said Siemian is “playing at a high level” and that Broncos fans would likely be more comfortable with the second-year pro at the reins going forward.

“Let’s put it this way. I think Paxton Lynch has got a future in this league, but I think that you feel a lot more comfortable starting a game today with Trevor Siemian,” Schefter said.

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