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          NFL Nation

          Broncos QB battle: Plenty of ups and downs for Trevor Siemian and Paxton Lynch

          • Jeff Legwold, ESPN Senior WriterAug 2, 2017, 06:50 PM
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              Jeff Legwold is a senior writer who covers the Denver Broncos and the NFL at ESPN. Jeff has covered the Broncos for more than 20 years, joining ESPN in 2013. He also assists with NFL draft coverage, including his annual top 100 prospects. Jeff has been a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Board of Selectors since 1999. He has attended every scouting combine since 1987.
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          ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Every day, every practice, every throw is part of the Denver Broncos' competition at quarterback between Trevor Siemian and Paxton Lynch. Here's a closer look at their day:

          Trevor Siemian

          Siemian opened with the second-team offense and certainly had some rough spots early in practice, including an interception, before he settled in and closed the day with more efficiency.

          Wow moment: Siemian spied fullback Andy Janovich up the right sideline in team drills for what would have been one of the biggest plays of practice. Siemian also allowed wide receiver Jordan Taylor to shine; he is in one of the tightest position battles on the roster. Siemian made a quality throw up the left sideline to Taylor during a third-down period.

          Whoa moment: Siemian was erratic early coming out of Tuesday's day off for the players, including a throw to Bennie Fowler that was swatted away by Bradley Roby, a pass knocked down at the line of scrimmage by Jared Crick and an interception by linebacker Brandon Marshall, all among his first set of throws of practice.

          Paxton Lynch

          Lynch opened with the starters and his day went the opposite of Siemian's, with his best throws coming early in the workout before he found some trouble of his own.

          Wow moment: Lynch's best throw came in the early snaps when he hit a leaping A.J. Derby up the left sideline. Lynch followed that pass moments later with another big play up the left side, this time to Taylor. His best throw likely won't stir much conversation, but he showed some progress when he came off his first read to reset and find wide receiver Cody Latimer for a first down in one team period.

          Whoa moment: Despite being 6-foot-7, Lynch has had an inordinate number of passes batted down at the line of scrimmage already in this training camp. That total includes three more that were knocked down by linemen Wednesday to go with another that was tipped at the line before it was then knocked down in coverage. Lynch also was intercepted by Aqib Talib after a poor choice on a fourth-down play late in practice.