For most of his rookie season, Tim Tebow has had to rely on mental reps during the practice week with Kyle Orton taking a majority of the real snaps with the first-team offense.
That changed Wednesday with Orton limited in practice by injured ribs. Interim Head Coach Eric Studesville said Tebow took the majority of the first-team reps as he and Brady Quinn helped get the offense ready for Sunday’s game in Oakland.
“I think just getting more opportunities out there — more reps — that’s a lot of fun for me,” Tebow said. “That’s a chance to really work and improve and learn this offense even more. If I get an opportunity on Sunday, that’ll be exciting as well.”
Both Studesville and Offensive Coordinator Mike McCoy said they were pleased with Tebow’s practice showing, expressing confidence in the 2010 first-round pick, who has not seen extended snaps in a game since the preseason.
“He did a nice job in practice yesterday,” McCoy said. “He went in there and ran the huddle, did a nice job throwing the football and going through alert systems and everything else in the run game.”
But that doesn’t mean Orton — who has started 28 of the team’s past 29 games — won’t be ready to play Sunday.
Studesville said Orton could thereotically start without taking many — or any — practice reps this week, but he will wait until later in the week to make a decision. The coach said the starter will continue to get treatment on the ribs and rest as much as possible. McCoy said he is planning as if Orton, who was limited again in Thursday’s session, will play.
Orton hurt the ribs in Sunday’s game in Arizona. Tebow warmed up, but the sixth-year signal caller didn’t miss a snap. That’s an example of Orton’s toughness that has Brandon Lloyd believing the banged-up quarterback will be ready to go on Sunday.
“If Kyle can walk, he will play,” Lloyd said. “You really admire that because of the sacrifice and sacrificing his body for the betterment of the team.”
Tebow said he didn’t believe the game plan heading into Sunday’s rematch with the Raiders would change based on who was under center. Until Orton’s status becomes more clear, the rookie is happy to take advantage of his opportunity.
After consistently talking about being ready for any situation, Tebow said his approach has paid off now that he is spending more time in practice working on the Broncos offense than running the scout team.
“I think just by trying to study hard all year and be ready for any opportunity helps,” Tebow said. “Now, getting to go out there and physically do it helps a lot.”
A day after seven Broncos missed practice, five of them returned for Thursday’s workout.
Brandon Lloyd (calf) returned to full participation after classifying Wednesday as “a rest day.” Kevin Alexander (ankle), David Bruton (ribs), Matt Prater (right groin) and Marcus Thomas (ankle) practiced on a limited basis.
Studesville said he is hopeful about Prater’s progress but indicated the team won’t decide whether to keep two kickers on the active roster heading into Sunday’s game until later in the week. The Broncos used recently signed Steven Hauschka in Week 14 with Prater out of action.
“(Prater) is going to kick today,” Studesville said. “We are going to get him out there and kick the ball a little bit today and get him going and see where we are with that.”
Brian Dawkins (knee) and Demaryius Thomas (ankle) missed practice for the second straight day, and Jamal Williams (non-injury) also got the workout off.
Darcel McBath (quadricep) went from full participation on Wednesday to limited participation on Thursday.
Eric Decker (foot) and Spencer Larsen (hamstring) practiced fully for the second straight day.
Oakland also got back several players on Thursday with LB Rolando McClain (foot) being the only Raider to miss practice.
DB Nnamdi Asomugha (ankle), WR Johnnie Lee Higgins (ankle), DT Richard Seymour (knee), QB Kyle Boller (quadricep), S Hiram Eugene (ribs) and WR Nick Miller (ankle) were all limited in practice. T Khalif Barnes (back), S Tyvon Branch (shoulder), LB Travis Goethel (knee), CB Chris Johnson and TE Zach Miller fully participated in the session.
- Eric Detweiler, DenverBroncos.com
Below are some photos from Thursday’s workout:
Tags: 2010, Denver Broncos, Kyle Orton, Tim Tebow, Week 15
Tebow has a stronger arm…according to Madden 11
love it.
I thought Cutler had a stronger arm than Elway and a better helicopter too, haha.
I think Cutler had a stronger arm if they were to throw in the QB Challenge, but on the field in game, Elway I still think had a better arm.
Speaking of Elway, I just watched a VHS tape of the 1998 season and SB. It’s not like I can ever forget how great it was to watch him play, but it depressed me to realize, we may never have another QB like him.
It also got me thinking about watching them destroy the Chargers in SD for my first live NFL game. I was 16 at the time and had a SD fan throw his cup of beer on me for wearing my TD jersey.
I mean another QB like him, in that all fans, team mates, coaches, and upper management think the world of. With him, it was always, what does he need to win the SB, never contemplating the false notion that he was the reason. Minus Dan Reeves when trying to trade him, and got his arse let go because of it.
and to win a second SB against Reeves, ahhhhh the nostalgia is in full force with me today…
We have some older guys here, but who can recall their first Bronco memory?
I can vividly remember when Steve Atwater put Christian Okaye on his back.
Steve Atwater, I saw someone in my casino last month with an Atwater AFC pro bowl jersy on.. I went onto the floor and asked him if he would sell it and for how much… He told me to go online and find one, because he wouldn’t sell it for 5k… I shook the man’s hand and went my way. Now that is team PRIDE. or stupidity but I respected it nonetheless.
Atwater is one of my all time faves. And that crash he put on Okoya is one of the freakish hits I ever saw. That hit was heard from around the world. Okoya is down for the count.
Maybe some of you have read this:
“Colorado Judge gives 7-year old right to decide custody”
“A seven-year old boy was at the center of a county courtroom drama yesterday when he challenged a court ruling over custody. The boy had a history of being beaten by his parents, and the judge initially awarded custody to his aunt. The boy surprised the court when he proclaimed that the aunt beat him more than his parents and he admantly refused to live with her. When the judge then suggested he live with his grandparents, the boy cried and said they also beat him. After considering the remainder of the immediate family and learning domestic violence was apparently a way of life among them, the judge took the unprecedented step of allowing the boy to propose his own custody arrangements. After two recesses to check legal references and confer with the child welfare officials, the judge granted temporary custody to the Denver Broncos, whom the boy firmly believes are not capable of beating anyone.”
The crap we taken being a Bronco fan right now.
Shanny is grasping for straws.
ya, shanny is still looking for the next elway too!
@ danso…. OUCH bro! lmao
Danso, only in Colorado.LOL
That is a good one.(joke)
Shanahan just told Mcnabb that he is being released at the end of the year. That is what I took from that anyway. On my top 5 favorite QB’s McNabb is my #4. It pains me, that he could not produce in Washington this year.
Just to let everyone know. Mcnabb failed to do what only 2 active QB’s in the NFC have been able to do in the last 11 seasons.(not including this year.) and that is win the Super Bowl. So those that want to hate on McNabb for not being able to win the big game, I say, then all NFC QB’s in the last 11 seasons should have been cut.
* minus the two SB winners in Eli Manning, and Drew Brees. And yes I know Kurt Warner and the Rams, but he was not an active NFC QB when McNabb was cut from the Eagles.
hey all, check out this story:http://bleacherreport.com/articles/546092-tim-tebow-should-start-for-denver-broncos-week-15-against-oakland-raiders
i couldnt agree more!!!
i believe they mentioned all the reasons we have been talking about to start Tebow! lets hope our dream comes true!
Went down to Phoenix last week. Played some golf in recording setting temperatures for this time of year. Bought some great tickets on the 45 yard line from the scalpers at a reasonable price. Best seats I have ever had at a football game anywhere. The roof was closed and the temp was probably 72. The beer stand and restrooms were very close by and I figured we would get a bounce from our new interim coach and win a game against a crappy Arizona team. I was set to go. Man what a disappointing day. The only explanation I could give all those Arizona fans was we were playing for a great draft pick and they would be sorry picking after us. I’ve been an Orton fan all along but that day he was struggling and hurting and I’ll never understand why Tebow wasn’t sent in to at least play the fourth quarter. Well, this week we probably don’t have a chance in hell but I will make my stupid prediction that our defense holds the Raiders to 30 and Tebow plays and gives us a mightly lift and somehow Broncos win 31-30. ( I know dumb, dumb but I can dream too)
Maybe Shanny gets the axe after one stinken year with the Skins. Also just heard on the NFL Network that Cowher is interested in the Houston Job. Speculation though maybe. Kubiak is still HC for the moment.
i just hope to god that if Kubiak gets canned than he does not become our HC. like Kubiak but his message is the same as shanny’s. im ready for something new in Denver!
meant to say “I like kubiak but….”
Yep. Kubiak is just a replica of Shanny. We need something new. I like him also but not as our HC. All offense and bad D.
I hate sound like a broken record but we need a D mind coach.
ya, i would prefer a D minded coach. That would be one of the top 2 things i would want to ask coach candidates. the other would be how much do you want Tebow to be the next starting QB.
boy… sure wish there was SOMETHING in broncos news right now. anyone hear if orton practiced today?
I want Tebow to be our future QB.
I’m hoping that orton sarts one series. This way if we lose with Tebow playing the rest of the game the loss wont count against him. lol . I hope our new HC is told from the start that Tebow is our man. Teams that revolve around the QB seem to do better. Tebow is a natural at leading, we have a young O who should grow around him and let the next couple of years build a strong young D. champ will move to safty by then and be our D leader.
Tebow 22 for 30 for 275 yards, 2 td 1 rushing td for a 24-20 victory!
and thats the bottom line cuz TebowKing15 said so
oh and one of my first broncos memories was going to a game at Mile High. it was a nice day to start and when the game was over we walked home in the snow. lol. Dont even remember if we won but it was against the jets in there old green and white uni’s with the JETS on the green helmets.
Back in the days some of my fav’s were #80 Rick Upchurch, thats who I was on the playground.
This Florida boy really wants to see Tebow start this sunday, or atleast get signifigant playing time
ron rivera for HC we would have a defence
I hate hate, but I love me some Denver Broncos.
Getem Tebow
Go TEBOW
What about Ron Rivera as new Head Coach
Sorry didnt see post older than dirt
Hardly any reps all year for the #2 QB… MISMANAGEMENT!