DT wants Broncos QB battle ‘settled’ by preseason Game 2 vs. 49ers

The decision on who’ll start at quarterback for the Denver Broncos might come sooner than expected … at least if head coach Vance Joseph adheres to Demaryius Thomas’ wishes.

During his annual youth football camp Friday at Mullen High School, the Broncos wide receiver told assembled media that he’d like to see Joseph make the decision on who’ll be tossing him passes — Paxton Lynch or Trevor Siemian — before preseason Game 2.

“About a week and a half into training camp, before we go to San Francisco,” Thomas said on his preferred timeline on the decision, of which he has faith in Joseph to make the correct pick.

“He’s going to make the right decision. We trust in coach, and he’s going to make the right decision for the team.”

Denver will travel to the Bay Area ahead for joint practices with the 49ers ahead of the Aug. 19 tilt in Santa Clara, California.

In about a week, however, DT, Siemian, Lynch and company will be heading to Southern California to hold a private passing camp with the Broncos offensive skill position players, Mike Klis of KUSA-TV reports.

Demaryius Thomas said Broncos QBs, WRs, TEs, RBs would hold private passing camp in LA in about a week. #9sports

— Mike Klis (@MikeKlis) July 7, 2017

Siemian had suggested during mandatory minicamp in June that the quarterbacks and wide receivers would get together during the team’s six-week break.

“We’ll do something (with the receivers),” Siemian said on June 13. “We were talking about that just now actually. I’m sure you guys will see an Instagram picture of it or something.”

Thomas did give his take Friday on which quarterback may be leading the competition heading into camp, Klis reports, saying that both Siemian and Lynch have both had “up and down days.”

Demaryius Thomas on QB competition between Trevor Siemian and Paxton Lynch. #9sports pic.twitter.com/Vb7Y6VIZab

— Mike Klis (@MikeKlis) July 7, 2017

“I remember Trevor had been pretty cool the whole time. Everybody has their days,” Thomas said. “And then the first couple weeks we see Paxton … the last couple of weeks he was just out there lighting it up. It was like, ‘Ooh, where did that come from?’

“It’s going to be good competition. I’m excited about it.”

Joseph said during mandatory minicamp that the offseason program, however, was not meant for assessing each quarterback, but that the “true evaluation” would come during training camp.

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