Broncos QB Siemian day-to-day with foot sprain, FB Janovich to IR
Nov 30, 2016, 3:09 PM | Updated: 3:27 pm
The Denver Broncos can add injury to insult, as starting quarterback Trevor Siemian and fullback Andy Janovich couldn’t escape Sunday’s 30-27 overtime loss to the Kansas City Chiefs unharmed.
Siemian, head coach Gary Kubiak revealed Wednesday afternoon, will be day-to-day with a foot sprain as the team prepares for the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Janovich, however, wasn’t as lucky, as he’ll miss the rest of the season after undergoing surgery Tuesday on an injured ankle, Kubiak said.
According to Kubiak, Janovich injured the ankle on the first play of the game — a screen pass that he caught for a one-yard loss — but played throughout the game hurt.
“He struggled throughout the course of the game. We knew he was struggling. He said he was fine. He’s really a tough kid. But it happened on the screen, the first play of the game, when he caught the ball he got rolled up,” Kubiak said.
“He battled through the game, and the next morning we went to take a look and knew we had an issue, something that needed to be fixed.”
Through Sunday, Janovich ranked as the fourth-highest graded fullback in the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus.
Siemian injured his foot on the drive in overtime in which they took a 27-24 lead with a field goal.
“He came out of the game very, very sore on Monday morning. It swelled up on him. And (head athletic trainer Steve ‘Greek’ Antonopulos) thought it was best to put him in a boot here for a few days, so he went in a boot yesterday,” Kubiak said.
“And we left him in here today, so we’ll see. It’s a day-to-day process, so we’ll see how much ground he can make up.”
Siemian had arguably one of his best games of the season — and career — against the Chiefs, completing 20 of 34 passes for 368 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions, the majority of which came after a lackluster first half.
The second-year pro missed one game this season already, against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 5, after leaving the previous week’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with an injury to his non-throwing shoulder.
Rookie quarterback Paxton Lynch filled in in both of those games, going 14-of-24 for 170 yards and one touchdown in a win over the Bucs and 23-of-35 for 223 yards, one touchdown and one pick in a loss to the Falcons.
Kubiak said Lynch and veteran backup Austin Davis took the reps in practice Wednesday but Siemian could play Sunday against the Jaguars without practicing.
“Trevor’s very bright. He’s on top of what we’re doing. That’s not an issue at all,” Kubiak said.
Follow digital content producer Johnny Hart on Twitter: @JohnnyHart7.
