Renck: Sunday’s game to show if Lynch can even be Broncos backup QB
Dec 29, 2017, 2:05 PM | Updated: 2:06 pm
Can Paxton Lynch do anything on Sunday to vault him into the mix not as the Denver Broncos starter but backup next season and beyond?
Denver 7 Broncos Insider Troy Renck, filling in on “Schlereth & Evans” on Friday, said that’s the question he wants to get answered as the 2016 first-round pick makes his second start this season against the Kansas City Chiefs.
“Does Lynch have any future in this organization? Can he do anything on Sunday to put himself in the mix or in the conversation to return as a backup?” Renck said. “He’s clearly not the starter. When your GM’s out watching Josh Allen on ESPN on the sideline, that is a clear message and a punch to your windpipe that you’re not the guy next year.
“But can he do anything to salvage and put himself into the mix? I want to see that.”
However, to Renck, it appears Lynch might not even be able to take advantage of the “gift-wrapped opportunity” given to him.
“The guy I’m watching in practice with the ankle, it doesn’t look like a guy who’s going to be able to take advantage of it,” Renck said. “It looks like a guy who’s going to throw a couple of picks, try to force the ball to Demaryius Thomas, and they’re going to run 45 times.”
Lynch has been working back from a high ankle sprain suffered during his only previous start this season, in Week 12 on the road against the Oakland Raiders.
“He looks like a guy who’s never dealt with a sprained ankle in his life,” said Renck, who added that Lynch hurt himself by not playing last week against the Washington Redskins. “I was a practice yesterday, and he’s still favoring it.”
Renck said he believes the ankle may hamper Lynch so much that he doesn’t think the second-year quarterback will finish Sunday’s game.
“That’s why I’m not putting as much stock into it, because I don’t know that he gets through four quarters,” Renck said. “I hope he does, for his sake. This is a clear opportunity.”
After Wednesday’s practice, Lynch said the ankle feels “a lot better” and he’s “ready to go” for Sunday despite the nagging injury.
“Obviously, I’m very excited for the opportunity. Just like I said, anytime I get a chance to come out here and work with these guys and play with these guys it feels good,” Lynch said. “I’ve wanted to play with them all season, but I’ve just had a couple nagging injuries that have kept me out of it.
“Like I said, I’m excited for this opportunity and I’m going to go make the most of it.”
Follow digital content producer Johnny Hart on Twitter: @johnnyhart7.
