Brock Osweiler is the quarterback of the present for the Broncos. Whether Paxton Lynch will be the quarterback of the future — this year or at some point down the road — remains to be seen.

Broncos coach Vance Joseph said Monday he’s “not sure” when Lynch, the 2016 first-round pick who hasn’t been active for a game since injuring his throwing shoulder on Aug. 26, will return to the field.

“Health-wise he’s still recovering from the shoulder (injury),” Joseph said. “It’s going to be almost two weeks now (since Lynch returned) to practice. We’ll see where he’s at. But he’s still recovering from his shoulder injury. He’s still throwing intermediate passes, not really deep passes yet. We want to make sure he’s totally healthy before he plays again.”

Lynch’s injury, which occurred in Denver’s third preseason game against the Packers, came just days after Joseph announced Lynch had lost the training camp quarterback battle to Trevor Siemian. Lynch has played in just three games (two starts) since being selected with the 26th overall pick in 2016.

Praise for Barbre. Allen Barbre started at right tackle Sunday in place of Menelik Watson, who hit the injured-reserve list last week with a torn tendon in his foot.

Barbre was handed the job ahead of rookie Elijah Wilkinson and swing tackle Donald Stephenson, who was ultimately held out against the Patriots because of a lingering calf injury. Barbre, the veteran acquired at the start of the training camp who has mostly played left guard, earned high marks from Joseph for his performance against the Patriots.

“He was very solid,” Joseph said. “He was solid in the run and pass game alike.”

Joseph didn’t commit to starting Barbre, who briefly slid to left tackle Sunday when Garret Bolles exited with a minor injury, in the Broncos’ upcoming game against the Bengals. Stephenson, who has missed the last four games due to the calf injury, is expected to play Sunday, Joseph said.

Back to bellcow? In each of the Broncos’ three victories this season, starting running back C.J. Anderson has carried the ball at least 20 times. In the six losses, he’s carried the ball more than 10 times only once — a 15-carry, 78-yard performance in a 29-19 loss to the Chiefs.

While Anderson filled the role of what Joseph called the “bell cow” running back through the first quarter of the season, the Broncos have drifted to more of a committee approach with Anderson, Jamaal Charles and Devontae Booker for the past five games.

Like many of the Broncos’ problems during its longest losing streak in seven seasons, Joseph cites consistent multiple-score deficits as one reason the offense hasn’t featured a heavy-workload running back, be it Anderson or someone else.

“We’ve been in games where we could stay with one guy. Again, when you fall behind by three scores you want to throw the ball more,” Joseph said. “So you have guys that run routes better, you have a guy that’s better in protection, so that’s where you go. Until we get an even game, that’s hard to answer.” Related Articles September 20, 2020 Broncos Report Card: Poor pass protection costs Denver chance at win in Pittsburgh

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Injury update. Linebacker Todd Davis tweaked his right ankle during Sunday’s game, Joseph said, adding the injury was “nothing serious.” Davis missed road games at Kansas City and Philadelphia with what was deemed a high ankle sprain before returning against the Patriots.

Tight end A.J. Derby left Sunday’s game with a shoulder injury, and Joseph said Monday he was “sore.”

“Other than that we came out (of the game) good as far as long-term injuries,” Joseph said.