Last week he took an “L” but will he bounce back?
Paxton Lynch has officially regressed, from backup quarterback to third-team QB as practices kicked off this week, following the Denver Broncos Week 1 preseason loss to the Minnesota Vikings.
Lynch was laughably bad Saturday night, going 6-11 for 24 yards and an interception, looking lost on the field as he has for the last two years when he’s been in, albeit, rarely.
Meanwhile, Chad Kelly came in and lit the world on fire; going 14-21 for 177 yards with two touchdowns and one pick. Whether it was the chants of “Kelly, Kelly, Kelly!” from the crowd at Mile High, his evaluation of the game or this column, head coach Vance Joseph decided to finally allow Kelly to practice with the second-team.
“He is upset and he didn’t like it,” Joseph said of Lynch being demoted on Tuesday. “He wants to know why. He’s got to play better. It’s as simple as that. It’s a competition. It’s the league. Everyone is doing this. No one is not playing their best players. It’s really more about Chad. Chad has competed and Chad’s played well. If Chad’s not playing well, [Lynch] is still the 2. It’s really more about what Chad has done from the spring to now.”
Well, it’s really about what Chad has done, and what Lynch hasn’t done, combined.
And if Lynch truly is upset — because he may finally be seeing the first, official signs of his looming exit from Dove Valley and possibly the league all together — he better start playing like he belongs.
Hey, it’s not like Lynch hasn’t had the complete backing of the organization. John Elway moved up to take him at No. 26 overall in 2016, and he’s started four games even though he’s been woefully underprepared mentally to succeed. And, Joseph kept him as the backup until he was forced to move Kelly up into that spot, while offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave is still looking to help Lynch.
“My message to Paxton? ‘Just keep working,” Musgrave told the media Tuesday. “Keep working and no matter when you get in the practice, no matter when you get in the game, put your best foot forward and continue to strive. As a young player get better every day.’”
For Lynch, that’s easier said than done.
If he’s not already a bust, he’s inching closer all the time. What will take him out of this tailspin? It’s hard to say for sure.