Sixth-year tight end Virgil Green, who owns just two career touchdowns, caught three touchdown passes during practice at Dove Valley Thursday. Coach Gary Kubiak called Green the “red hot player of the day” after practice, and Green noted that he is striving for consistency—he said he would rather have consecutive good days than one standalone great day.

Green on injury impacting his blocking ability last year. pic.twitter.com/tzJT96Kvoi — Jon Heath (@JonHeathNFL) August 4, 2016

See more notes from Thursday’s practice below.

Quarterbacks showing little separation

Mark Sanchez is conservative, Trevor Siemian makes young mistakes, and Paxton Lynch is the most exciting (but not necessarily best) option. That’s all you need to know about Denver’s quarterback competition. None of the team’s three QBs have pulled away in the competition—the job is still to be won.

Siemian started the day with the first-team offense but had struggles throughout the day. At one point during a first-team offense against first-team defense portion of practice, Siemian fumbled on one play before throwing a pass deep down the middle of the field to no one while under pressure the next play. During 7-on-7 move-the-ball drill, Siemian’s drive ended when he threw an interception to Brandian Ross in the end zone (Bennie Fowler was his intended target).

Sanchez looked better than Siemian, going 4-4 during 7-on-7 move-the-ball drills before Demaryius Thomas dropped a touchdown pass and a pass on a post route on consecutive plays. On fourth-and-nine from the 12-yard line during the same drive, Sanchez found Green for a touchdown.

Lynch did not get an opportunity to throw during on 7-on-7 move-the-ball drills, but he did look good on roll out passes at various times during practice. Lynch is obviously the most mobile of Denver’s quarterbacks, and he did well buying time when he needed to before finding a receiver down field more than once Thursday.

Kubiak said after practice that he will have a set number of throws for each quarterback in the team’s preseason opener against the Chicago Bears on Aug. 11, one week from today. Kubiak indicated that preseason performance would play a big part in determining who ultimately wins the job.

Defense was, as usual, dominant

The defense won more battles than the offense Thursday morning. With cornerback Chris Harris bothered by a right hamstring, Lorenzo Doss and Bradley Roby were the two starting quarterbacks (Aqib Talib is still on the team’s non-football injury list). Doss held his own, as did Roby.

On the defensive line, Derek Wolfe disrupted the offensive line more than once, recording at least one unofficial sack. Darius Kilgo got through on one run play and hit Ronnie Hillman in the backfield.

Off the edge, Shane Ray and Shaquil Barrett provided constant pressure (they filled in for Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware, who are on pace to be ready for the team’s second preseason game). At one point during practice, Barrett reached Sanchez so quickly on a roll out that the quarterback was forced to throw the ball at his running back’s feet to avoid a sack. Ray fared much better as a rusher than as a run defender, at one point rushing up field and overpursuing on a run play only to see the running back run by him.

Rushing attack back on track

Denver’s run game was solid Thursday. C.J. Anderson ran with the starters while Kapri Bibbs, Ronnie Hillman and Juwan Thompson shared second-team carries. Rookie Devontae Booker spent most of his time with the third-team offense. Booker showed great power, at one point pushing tight end Henry Krieger-Coble into a defender before running around him for a big gain. Andy Janovich blocked well, at one point drawing praise from coaches for a superb lead-block for Anderson on an outside run play.

Miscellaneous notes from Thursday

Rookie safety Justin Simmons was the first player on field . . . The team’s starting offensive line appeared to be Russell Okung, Max Garcia, Matt Paradis, Darrion Weems and Donald Stephenson. Ty Sambrailo, who has been playing right guard, is battling an elbow injury . . . Bennie Fowler made several big catches Thursday. Fowler seems to be competing with Jordan Norwood for the team’s No. 3 receiver position . . . Doss and Taurean Nixon had one of the best plays of practice when they teamed up to down a punt at the one-yard line . . . Speaking of punts, Britton Colquitt and Riley Dixon seem to be even in their competition to win the starting job . . . Kicker Brandon McManus booted a 60-yarder right down the middle . . . Sanchez was not on the same page as Jordan Taylor, three different times throwing a different direction than Taylor ran his route . . . Lynch seems to be developing a nice connection with tight end Jeff Heuerman, connecting with him twice for scores . . . No matter the quarterback, Emmanuel Sanders is easily the team’s most reliable weapon on offense . . . 5,201 fans attended camp Thursday, the most this summer.

The Broncos will return to the field for another open practice Friday morning at 9:30. Gates will open at 8:30, and parking is free for fans.