Klatt: Broncos QB Siemian has to be ‘100 percent’ to be effective

Denver Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak said that a determination on who will be under center Sunday in Nashville — either second-year pro Trevor Siemian or rookie Paxton Lynch — will be made Saturday.

Kubiak said after Friday’s practice that Siemian, who’s working back from a sprained foot suffered during a Week 12 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, was pushed harder in practice and the team will see how he feels Saturday.

But how healthy Siemian feels could determine how effective he can be at quarterback, Fox Sports football analyst Joel Klatt told 104.3 The Fan’s “Schlereth and Evans” on Friday, and that he needs to be “100 percent in order to be effective” against the Tennessee Titans.

“I don’t hold that against him. Listen, my 80 percent wasn’t good enough at the college level, so when I was banged up it was probably better for our team if the coaches went in a different direction,” Klatt said. “That’s not what I wanted. I didn’t want to not be on the field, but I think that’s something the coaches and even you have to look at yourself in the mirror and realize when you’re not a great player.”

Klatt said that the Broncos are likely doing an equation that factors in the percentage of how healthy Siemian is and if that’s better than an able-bodied Lynch.

“Which is your better option? Based on what I saw last week, I think a slightly reduced Siemian is better than Paxton Lynch. I think that’s the equation. That’s the decision that’s going on over at Dove Valley. So you’re trying to give yourself the best possible chance to win.

“Lynch just proved that he can go out there and not lose you a game. Is that your best chance to win? Because we’ve Siemian go out there and in a loss prove that he can go win a game, even though the defense and specials gave it up against Kansas City because of how well they played in that game. I think that’s the thought process at this point, between the two.”

Lynch made just his second career start Sunday in Jacksonville, completing only 12 of his 24 passes for 104 yards, no touchdowns, and no picks against the Jaguars. In his previous start, a Week 5 loss to the Atlanta Falcons, Lynch went 23-of-35 for 223 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception.

Siemian, on the other, has gone 7-3 in his first NFL action this season, throwing for nearly 2,400 yards with 15 touchdowns and only 7 interceptions. But coming off a non-throwing shoulder injury in Week 6, he threw 50 times, completing only 30 passes for 1 touchdown and no picks in a loss to the San Diego Chargers.

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