5 players to watch in Broncos preseason opener vs. Bears

The Denver Broncos have their first preseason game on Thursday night against the Chicago Bears.

Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak said earlier this week the team is ready to hit somebody else.

“We’re tired of each other. Coaches are tired of each other. Players are tired of each other,” Kubiak said. “I told them after practice, ‘We’ve been going at each other for a long time. Now it’s time to go with each other.’ This is the fun. It’s why you work. We’re looking forward to it.”

The team has several players who are vying for a spot on the 53-man roster. They also have a collection of talented players who are pushing for a spot in the starting lineup. The evaluation process for these positions is incredibly important for a team who is still in a Super Bowl window.

So who are the players to watch in this game? Who has the most to gain — or lose — with their performance in the preseason?

Here are five players to watch in the Broncos preseason opener:

Every QB

The quarterback position is the great debate at Broncos camp right now. Mark Sanchez is the starter for the game against the Bears, but the competition is far from over.

Sanchez is the seasoned veteran, but he has not distanced himself in this race. Every other day, he seems to throw an untimely interception in practice. Most of the time, those picks go for touchdowns and result in momentum-swinging plays for the defense.

The offense is going to lean on the rushing attack this year, so the QB has to take care of the ball. If Sanchez wants to be the starter at the beginning of the season, then he needs to stop throwing interceptions regularly.

Trevor Siemian played better as camp continues to roll on at UCHealth Training Center. When camp began, Siemian was “Captain Checkdown,” as he rarely challenged the defense with passes over 10 yards. As camp has gone on, Siemian has shown a willingness to throw the ball downfield, trust his receivers and take some deep shots.

Paxton Lynch, the team’s first-round pick this year, has shown that he’s not quite ready for prime time. There have been good signs about his future, but there have been plays where the rookie fails to make the simple throw. Lynch is incredibly aggressive as a passer and often tries to throw deep. However, he needs to accurately hit shorter, quicker passes from the pocket in order to show that he’s ready for a starter’s workload.

What’s unusual is that Lynch is great when under pressure or on the run. When blitzed (or on a designed rollout), Lynch is cool under fire and can accurately distribute the football to all parts of the field. Most young QBs aren’t good when the heat is on. It’s a great sign for his future that one of the toughest parts of playing QB is something in which Lynch is already good.

We’ll be talking about this QB situation until it gets settled, and there’s a chance that doesn’t really happen throughout the 2016 season.

Kapri Bibbs

The Broncos have waited for two years with running back Kapri Bibbs, and his time may be running out. He’s got one year of eligibility left on the practice squad, but there may be another team willing to sign him to an active roster if Bibbs is made available. The Broncos are going to be a run-heavy team in 2016, and having Bibbs as a reserve on the active roster would benefit them greatly if injuries strike at the position.

Bibbs’ main competition for a spot on the 53-man roster may be last year’s leading rusher Ronnie Hillman. Starter C.J. Anderson and rookie Devontae Booker are locks for the roster. Behind those two, things are up in the air. Hillman was allowed to explore free agency but didn’t receive any offers and only one team (Green Bay Packers) even showed interest. The Broncos brought him back for a good price, but with so much talent at running back Hillman is not guaranteed a spot on the team.

Juwan Thompson is also in the mix for a reserve running back spot, and the fact he can play both fullback and running back has to help his cause. While Thompson is not as explosive as Bibbs, he is a powerful player who can run over defenders with ease. He’s also a natural receiver out of the backfield.

Bibbs has to prove himself in pass protection if he wants to make the team. We already know he’s a good runner with a nose for the end zone. He’s proven to me over the last two years in camp that he can be a capable and swift receiver when called upon. However, if Bibbs can’t protect the QB and understand his duties as a blocker then his chance of making the 53-man roster is slim.

The former Colorado State running back needs to have a big preseason starting on Thursday against the Bears.

Kalif Raymond

A darling at the start of training camp, undrafted wide receiver Kalif Raymond has fallen off a bit as we get further into camp. He’s a sure route runner who doesn’t tip off which direction he’s going at the stem of his route. Raymond is lightning quick and can easily gain separation against tight coverage. His agility and athleticism also makes him a great option as a return man.

While Raymond has been trending down, fellow undrafted rookie wide receiver Bralon Addison has started to trend upward. Like Raymond, Addison is a smaller, quicker player with the moves to toy with defenders in the open field. Addison is not the route runner that Raymond is, but he carries more weight and could be more dangerous as a returner.

Veteran wide receiver Jordan Norwood is currently the top return man for the team. He’s not as explosive as the two rookie wide receivers, but Norwood is a savvy player who has had to fight for his roster spot almost every year he’s been in the NFL. Competition is nothing new to him, and his experience stands out in the passing game.

While Raymond and Addison can be categorized as “works in progress” as receivers, Norwood does a good job of making critical catches to move the chains in practice. The advantage is clearly held by the veteran, and that’s why Raymond (or Addison) needs to have a great preseason to make the team.