Tim Tebow will start at quarterback on Sunday against Houston at INVESCO Field at Mile High, Interim Head Coach Eric Studesville said in a Monday press conference.
Tebow made his first career start in Sunday’s 39-23 loss in Oakland, finishing 8-of-16 passing for 138 yards and a touchdown. The 2010 first-round pick’s 100.5 passer rating marked the highest-ever for a Denver rookie quarterback in a starting debut.
He also added seven rushes for 78 yards, including a 40-yard first-quarter rushing touchdown.
The performance earned positive reviews from Studesville and Tebow’s teammates in the minutes after the loss. With Kyle Orton still rehabbing a rib injury, Studesville said a day later that Tebow earned the chance to make his first home start.
“I thought Tim played well in his first start in a difficult environment, being in there with those fans when they started getting cranked up,” Studesville said. “I thought he really managed everything well — the environment, our game plan, got us in and out of the things that we needed to and just ran our offense well.”
Against the Raiders, the team waited until Sunday to announce that Tebow would start. With Kyle Orton still dealing with a rib injury, Studesville said the team decided to make the decision early heading into a Week 16 showdown with the Texans.
The interim head coach said he met with both quarterbacks on Monday morning to explain his decision.
“With where he is right now, we just felt that prolonging this later into the week was not the best thing for our preparation and practice,” Studesville said. “So, we decided to make the decision earlier in the week to go and do this.”
Studesville lauded Tebow for his energizing leadership style and ability “to put the ball where he needed to in order to give us a chance to win the football game” in his debut starting effort. The coach also said he’s excited about building on the performance with another week for Tebow to take a majority of the first-team quarterback reps.
With another week to improve and tweak the gameplan toward Tebow’s strengths, it’s a process that excites Studesville going forward.
“We are finding more and more out about what he does,” Studesville said. “That game yesterday gave us a lot of information and a lot of things that we can work with and go from and that we can build on as coaches to give him. We have seen it out here (at practice), but it is different when everything is full speed on Sunday afternoon.”
JACKSON JOINS SQUAD
The Broncos added Chevis Jackson to the active roster on Monday when they were assigned the third-year cornerback off waivers. To make room, the team waived linebacker Kevin Alexander.
Jackson, a third-year player out of LSU, has appeared in 33 career regular season games with three starts during stints with Jacksonville and Atlanta. He most recently played with New England but did not appear in any games before being waived on Saturday.
The former third round pick has 64 career tackles, including one sack, and one interception. He also played in one postseason game as a rookie with the Falcons, garnering an interception in a start against Arizona.
Alexander played in eight games, playing mostly on special teams, after being elevated from the practice squad on Oct. 16. The linebacker notched one tackle and a pass breakup on defense and added three special-teams stops.
INJURY UPDATE
Studesville said he’s hopeful the team will get back several injured players this week but urged waiting until later in the week before making more concrete judgements.
Knowshon Moreno missed the final three quarters on Sunday after injuring his side. Studesville said the second-year running back spent the morning getting treatment at the team’s Dove Valley facility.
“He is a little sore and we will continue to evaluate that as we go through the week and see where we are with him,” Studesville said.
Matt Prater missed his second straight game with a right groin injury, and the interim head coach said the kicker will test the leg early in the week. If he can’t go, Studesville said he’s been pleased by the job Steven Hauschka has done in Prater’s place and would continue to use the newcomer, who has hit four of his five field goal attempts in the last two games.
Studesville also expressed optimism that Demaryius Thomas (ankle) and Brian Dawkins (knee) might be able to return this week. Thomas has missed the past four games, while Dawkins has been out for three straight.
Thomas practiced on a limited basis last Friday, which the interim head coach viewed as a positive step toward having the rookie wide receiver back against the Texans.
“We got him out moving around a little bit and hope to get a little bit more this week from him,” Studesville said. “He will continue his rehab and what he is doing and monitor it day by day.”
Tags: 2010, Denver Broncos, Tim Tebow, Week 16
Kubiak and his Texans can be thought of as the ultimate collapse teau, and every single year, and like I said with a fabulous front 7 on D to boot, lights out RB and #1 WR and decent everything else on O, doesn’t exactly get my vote of confidence, just saying.
collapse team..
I know because I live in Texas, so I get the “pleasure” to see most of their games, even seen them in their stadium, not a feeling of comfort to have Kubiak as you may think, at least for Texans fans.
I can see Bowlen looking at college coaches such as Friedgen and Meyer. The obvious front runners are Gruden, Cowher, and Dungy. All nflers are defensive minded and thats something we desperately need. Either that, or higher Jon Fox as DC and get an experienced head coach that has led teams to success! Jon Fox is definitely on his way out of Carolina and would be a great addition to me. Then get an offnsive coach and we will be sitting pretty after a defensive draft! Some quality FA pickups like the Peppers pickup this year would really set us apart feom the AFC. I wouldn’t mind seeing Doom on one side and that kid from Wisconsin on the other. Every game I saw him in he was a monster! Dominating force on the dline!
Do you mean the DE. JJ Wyatt?
J.J. Watt from Wisconsin would be awesome to get. He reminds me of Dwight Freeney or Julius Peppers and to have him and Doom on each side we would be similar to Indy with Freeney and Mathis! Game changing!
yep he’s the kid!
I’m all for it but only after we get either Dareus or Fairley with the first pick.
I don’t see JJ being around into the 2nd round. Is there any other DE that stood out his year that would be a high 2nd round pick? Where are Fairley or Dareus from?
Ya spelled his name wrong. JJ WATT. oooops
Fairley is from Auburn and Dareus is LSU.
Fairley Auburn
Dareus Alabama
Strand, Peterson is from LSU, you’re confused.
ooooops. Dareus is from Alabama. sorry, wrong info.
@baylinor So they kinda picked up where the Oilers left off, then.
My bad. Got ahead of myself.
Ha, the Oilers! now you’re talking, people in Houston still haven’t gotten over when they left. Earl Campbell, Pastorini, Billy white shoes Johnson…
I don’t think Pat will want to put the organization into turmoil again and diminish any more fan support than he already has with his hasty decision to hire McDaniels. I think unless someone is a perfect fit with a healthy track record of being a leader and not a supporting actor, then this may take a while after the end of the season to find a suitable replacement. Kubiak is all wrong for the team as HC. He has had the reigns in Houston and could not get it done. Too much choking. Defense is key. I would rather Denver be known for a dominant D then a high powered offense and a sorry D like now.
More Oilers greats:
Elvin Bethea
George Blanda
Bruce Matthews
Charlie Joiner
Mike Munchak
Ken Houston
Chris Dishman
Warren Moon
And the two Elway 4th qaurter comebacks with 2 minutes left in the same year against the Oilers. The 2nd game a playoff game. Remember that comment by that defensive player. He said NOT THIS TIME ELWAY! And Elway burns them again. HaHa!!!
sndvl, looks like your man Kubiak is taking a beating here, LOL.
Maybe we can look at getting a solid FA running back to replace Buck. He has always been too injury prone, as good a teammate he is, not reliable enough as #2 RB. Hopefully someone similar to Jonathan Stewart or Peyton Hillis. Someone that can take some of the pounding that Knowshon is taking. Maybe Ingram from Alabama, but he will probably not be around in the 4th, 5th, 6th round.
I thought Ernest Givins was an exceptional WR. Spastic though but talented.
What about when the Buffalo Bills Top Houston Oilers in the NFL’s Greatest Comeback Game.
Buffalo Bills top Houston Oilers when it battles back from 32 points down in an NFL wild card playoff game simply known as “The Comeback.”
The word “greatest” is often followed by debate, but there is no debate when it comes to the greatest point deficit ever overcome in an NFL game. That distinction belongs to the Buffalo Bills, who battled back from a 32-point deficit in a Jan. 3, 1993 game simply known as “The Comeback.”
I watched that live on TV that day, never saw anything like it. Multiple miracles all over the place.
Yeah, ernest Givens great Oliers too.
1980, don’t forget we have LenDale White.
I see no one seems to believe in the Bowers kid…guess its jus tme..heard he is really good. Sure we need a DT/NT but Bowers seems hard to pass on. But I would happily take Failey too. He is just as talented
sndvl,
For what its worth, I said the same thing a couple weeks/days back. Manning has been winning that division since he came in the league so all Kubiak could hope to get was a wild card spot…..which is tough when you are almost gauranteed 2 losses every year to the colts. I mean those guys have had a record of at least 12-4 for the past decade…so in those respects…we on the same page buddy. I want him (most importantly dennison) but Its hard to argue that a D minded coach is what we need. Because going Kubiak seems like admitting firing shanahan was wrong and hiring shanahan again without hiring shanahan again lol. (I did think it was wrong)…guess my point is Dminded HC would be wise…but the semtimental brono in me would not mind Kubiak and Dennison (but unfortunately sentimentality doesn’t get you far in proffesional sports….
Like I said, we need someone that can take a hit! lol. His own college coach a few years removed didn’t even want him on his team.
I think we should take Peterson with the first pick. A shutdown corner like that only comes along so often. There a few really good de and dt that have fallen to the second round in most mock drafts due to of the field issues. Marvin Austin from UNC is a monster and can easily be gotten in the late 2nd early 3rd round..He was top 5 dt at the beginning of the year before he got caught up in the ncaa infractions. I live in NC and have seen him play in person. Well worth the risk 6’4 315 dt in college..can play de in a 3-4 or dt in a 4-3
You got a point, so we have a running game made of all injury prone backs except fo Ball (Moreno Bucky Maroney and White…).
first things first, we need to lock up bailey and dawk. Hill and goodman can stay on to mentor the young guys but i think thompson and cox(barring his assault issue) are well on their way to becoming good players. I see Thompson becoming a Ed Reed type of player in the next couple of years.
1980
White is good enough in my book. Ball, buck, maroney can all get cut in my opinion..not unless we can trade Maroney for picks. If not Just keep Moreno, White, Maroney. 3 Backs…RB is the last thing I am thinking off this year…FB on the other hand…Maybe we can get a great one in 7th round like we did hillis. Spencer is good but he is no full back…honestly…I dunno what he is lol…a LB i guess…
Potter
Peterson seems hard to pass up…but would just be greed on our part. Not unless we lose champ…then its more of a neccesity but u are right…there is talented front 7 in 2nd 3rd and 4th but we have waited soo long that I cant wait anymore…The trenches need to be addressed.
I believe that Moreno has struggled with the hamstring injury all year long. It never truly heals unless you let it heal 100% before pushing it. Thats why players go in and out of line ups because they don’t feel they can wait the necessary time. They go at 80% and cause themselves more problems. We didn’t have a running game and so Knowshon felt the need to push himself faster than normal. So it lingered. We need a rushing attack like NY, NY, and Carolina. Two backs capable of being #1′s anywhere else. Then the load is equally shared.
Larsen is injury prone too, even in the locker room.
And we can probably snag stephen paea from oregan right out the gate in the 2nd round. 6’1 312. Just think peterson is going to be one of those instant superstar corners that can create alot of turnovers…especially if we keep champ cuz they will have to throw at one of them.
1980, Moreno is now out with rib injuries, nothing to do with the hammy.
Hey, everybody forget Kubiak was around for all the playoff runs with Shanny. Left after the AFC championship game in 05. Since Kubiak left, our offense has never been the same.
I really only care about Elway coming on board. First. GM 2nd. Then HC. Just keeping things even keel. And opinions balanced. Lol
DEFENSE in 2011
TRB……. I agree that a shut down corner would be greed but the line is priority #1. Every position needs tweeking or total renovation, other than receiver. We are good there. Pressure on the qb will make our secondary shine and not have to rely on them to stop teams every time. A good pass catching tight end would be a good pick up later in the draft or possibly in FA. Graham can’t seem to run away from anyone and is not a true pass catching TE anyway.
Peterson is a luxury we can’t afford, trenches is what we must shore up with our first pick, we have missed the boat for so many years on that one, look at where we are at in the trenches now, what good does it do to have great corners if you can’t stop anyone from running the ball, we absolutely need to find a couple impact players for the front 7 in this year’s draft, and impact players go early, I’m willing to pick a CB later if we don’t resign Bailey is about all.
bay….. i just meant earlier when Orton was our leading rusher even with all those sacks he would give up and take. His rib injury was a freak accident. He needs to play with it regardless. Shady McCoy in Philly played with a cracked rib all year long. Why can’t Moreno?
sndvl….. Elway has said he does not want to be a coach. Thats not what he wants, no matter how much he loves the broncos. Front office is as far as he will go. Its just great to see him involved with the organization again and maybe Tebow will be in his ear and attached at his hip for the rest of his career soaking all of Elways knowledge in. Can only make him better.
I’m just stuck in the mindset of taking the best player available at your spot. At #2 it peterson he is the second highest rated play in the draft. I understand we need all the help stopping the run we can get but there are a wealth of athletic 300 pound man mountains in this draft that we could in the 2nd and 3rd…I wont be dissapointed either way though i’ll take darreus or bowers or peterson all 3 can step in and play from day one.
Are there any really good DL prospects in the draft?
Champ is a a must keep player for his ability and his leadership. Remember when Champ shut down Bowe? That is classic. The interceptions haven’t been there of late, but thats because teams are running up our asses! He is having to play the run stopping corner more and more. He isn’t being allowed to sit back and watch the qbs eyes as he was in the past. Cox and Thompson will blossom next year with some actual run stopping players in the middle. We have some playmakers but not enough. Patchwork defenses show that they are full of holes in the end when it matters. i.e. 3-11!
I didn’t see any Haywood Jeffies or Drew Hill in htose Oilers greats names… Ya’ll left 2 off.
I say Tebow was coming. Now trust and believe it when I tell you. lol
Yeah, Fairley and Dareus are two guys who are supposed to go top five for sure.
That is where i hope the tebow factor comes in and he motivates the wuss out of some of the other players.
You and another 200,000 fans: 100,000 here and 100,000 in Gainesville, haha.
Paea is good…another guy I was looking at. Big DT. Projected 2nd round too…
Honestly if front seven was adressed in the first couple of rounds in McDs past 2 drafts we could go peterson..but all we got was ayers and I thought he was the 3 best option behind orakpo and cushings. Last year we passed up too. But then again if we addressed those things we may not be as bad as we are now and get as high as a pick as we do now. I usually hate drafting the best but when u are at number 2 I can see how hard it is to pass up on peterson..if we were at number 2 last year it woulda been suh hands down. The new coaching staff has alot to think about….
bay…… I think Moreno was used in the wrong way. He is not a between the tackles running back. Never was. He is a slasher and a option running back and a screen back. Thats why we need a pounder as well. I was hoping that Blount would have been sought after when Tennessee cut him before the season. He has turned out to be the back I thought he was in Tampa Bay. Moreno just needs to be utilized better and more of a 2nd and 3rd down back. Get a bruiser to be the 1st downer. Maybe they can find a gem in the late rounds. Maybe I should apply to the Broncos to make personnel decisions. I seem to call them to my buddies and generally seem to be right. LOL
They say prince amukaram is good as well. To tell the truth some guys havent even declared yet so i guess we will get a clearer picture later
Blount is also great at boxing, no thanks.