Paxton Lynch says he’s come a long way since arriving in Denver and he’s feeling “comfortable” and “confident” entering his second start in the NFL.

Lynch will be pressed into duty for the second time this season after Trevor Siemian injured his foot in overtime in a loss to Kansas City last week. Lynch finished a win against Tampa Bay and started in a loss to Atlanta earlier this season when Siemian injured his left shoulder against the Buccaneers.

The rookie met with the media as the official starting quarterback ahead of Denver’s battle with Jacksonville, and Lynch spoke about his increasing comfort level with the offense, taking snaps under center and jelling with his receivers. Here’s what he had to say, courtesy of Broncos PR…

Quarterback Paxton Lynch

On starting this Sunday against Jacksonville

“I feel confident in myself. I think the guys around me feel confident in me, too. Starting off the week, getting your first week of practice again [with the first team] after the week in Atlanta and getting some reps under my belt felt good. It felt good to close the week out with good practice.”

On the help that WR Emmanuel Sanders and WR Demaryius Thomas provide

“It’s very helpful to have guys like that outside. Not just one, but two of them [outside] and to also help you get in and out of the huddle. If you get in trouble scrambling around to make a play, those guys always find a way to get open. It’s very helpful to have guys like that outside.”

On his timing with Sanders and Thomas

“The reps that I do get with them are valuable reps, especially with those guys because they are going to be the guys that I throw to on Sunday. Atlanta, that week was the only week that I got to throw to them, so having another week throwing to them feels good. I just feel more confident with the more reps that I get with them.”

On the feedback that he receives from Sanders and Thomas

“They do [give me feedback] and Tyke [Tolbert], the receivers coach, [Quarterbacks/Passing Game Coordinator Greg] Knapp and [Head Coach Gary] Kubiak, too. You get a lot of helpful insight from everybody.”

On taking snaps from under center

“When I first got here it was weird because I was in the gun so much, but like everything, the more that you get repetition of it, the more comfortable you feel. You watch yourself on film and you correct it. It just gets easier to you.”

On his development with the offense’s verbiage 

“It’s gotten better as the week has gone on. When I first got here, it was really tough. It’s just something that you have to study and keep doing; not just here, but when you go home. I feel a lot more confident in myself getting in and out of the huddle.”

On the offensive gameplan being tailored to his skillset and the Atlanta game

“For both starts [preseason against Arizona], I think they have tried to make it more comfortable for me, moved the pocket and let me run around a little bit. We also have some of their stuff with the drop-backs and throwing it down the field. You want to win every game and when you don’t, you’re disappointed. That’s behind us and this week we have Jacksonville. That’s what we’re working towards.” 

On his ability to make quick decisions

“I feel like I have come a long way from first getting here and seeing the playbook for the first time. Now it’s a little easier. You get in and out of the huddle and you’re not thinking as much and you’re going out there and playing. It feels a lot better than when I first got here.”

On if his first start has helped his comfort level going into this week

“I definitely think so. Those game reps are invaluable to anything else. Practice reps are just so much different than what you do on game day. Those scout guys are so much different than the guys that you actually play with on Sunday.  It feels good to have game reps under your belt and I’m excited to go get another one.”

On his chemistry with TE A.J. Derby

“He just got here and this is my first week of real practice reps with him because I didn’t get any scout-team reps with him. He’s a good player and he brings another dimension to our offense that we need; getting in and out of breaks and catching balls. He is a really good player and I’m happy to have him.”