Sources to Stokley: Siemian to be named Broncos starting QB

For a second straight season, Trevor Siemian went into the offseason the underdog to win the starting quarterback role and came out on top.

Sources told “Stokley & Cecil” co-host Brandon Stokley the Broncos made its decision and will go with Siemian over second-year quarterback Paxton Lynch.

Head coach Vance Joseph is expected to make the announcement during Monday’s press conference at the team’s UCHealth Training Center.

Lynch did have a strong week joint practices with the San Francisco 49ers ahead of Saturday’s tilt in Santa Clara, with Joseph saying he was “very impressed.”

However, that momentum did not carry into the team’s second preseason game, wherein the Lynch, who started, managed just 9-of-13 passing for 39 yards, no touchdowns, and no picks.

Siemian, who started the previous week against the Chicago Bears, made the only throwing touchdown of the game and led all players with a 128.2 quarterback rating.

Over the two weeks of games, Lynch went 15-for-22 (68.2 percent) passing for 81 yards, no touchdowns, no interceptions, and a quarterback rating of 74.3.

Siemian went 14-of-18 (77.8 percent) for 144 yards, one touchdown, no interceptions, and a quarterback rating of 118.5.

After Saturday’s game, Joseph said draft status would not factor into his decision — Lynch was a first-round pick in 2015 and Siemian was a seventh-rounder in 2014 — and “whoever wins the job, wins the job.”

“Where you’re drafted does not matter. It’s about performance, not potential,” Joseph said.

Aside from an injury, it could be a long time before Lynch hits the field again.

Before the team traveled to Santa Clara last week, Joseph said, “If you name a starter, he’s the guy going forward.”

“Injury can play into that but once a guy is named the starter that’s a huge decision and that’s over time. So once that’s made, that’s pretty permanent.”

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