Jul 28, 2016; Englewood, CO, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Trevor Siemian (13) hands off the ball to running back Kapri Bibbs (35) during training camp drills held at the UCHealth Training Center. Photo Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Unproven Trevor Siemian will draw the start when the Denver Broncos visit the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday.
Siemian was tabbed to start coach Gary Kubiak after Thursday’s joint practice session with the 49ers.
Mark Sanchez, who started the preseason opener, will be the No. 2 signal caller against San Francisco.
“They should both play with the [first team] somehow, some way this week,” Kubiak said. “We’ll see how the reps fan out.”
Siemian, 24, was a seventh-round pick out of Northwestern in the 2015 NFL draft and has never thrown a pass in a regular-season contest. He went 7-of-12 for 88 yards in the preseason opener against the Chicago Bears.
Sanchez was acquired by the Broncos in the offseason from Philadelphia after Peyton Manning retired and Brock Osweiler departed as a free agent and signed with the Houston Texans.
Sanchez has played seven NFL season with the New York Jets (2009-13) and Eagles (2014-15) and has thrown 86 career touchdown passes and 84 interceptions. He was 10-of-13 for 99 yards with one touchdown and one interception against the Bears.
Kubiak estimated that both Siemian and Sanchez will play about 1 1/2 quarters on Saturday. First-round pick Paxton Lynch will play the remainder of the contest.
San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick (shoulder) will miss his second straight preseason game. Blaine Gabbert will again start for the 49ers.
