The Denver Broncos used their fourth game of the preseason to allow their rookies, youth and fringe players see action in order to evaluate who is worthy enough to earn a spot on the final 53 man roster.



A handful of players impressed and took advantage of their last opportunity to showcase their talents and abilities, whereas others did not. By the end of this weekend, 22 players who you saw tonight in action will be cut. The NFL is a brutal business, and has aptly earned the moniker "Not Fot Long", yet some of these players NFL dreams will live on with invitations to the team’s practice squad, even if they fail to evade the last round of cuts.

For those players who do make the team or practice squad — congratulations on being a part of the 2016 Denver Broncos. To those that don’t — thank you for your contributions and efforts, and I wish you nothing but the bests. May the wind always be at your back and with your sails, and here is to hoping you find success in all endeavors in life.



In tonight’s gridiron battle, all eyes were focused keenly on rookie first-round quarterback Paxton Lynch, who manned down position for the game’s entirety. He started off the festivities with a bang — connecting with second-year wide receiver Jordan Taylor on a short pass that Taylor took 57 yards to give the Broncos an early 7-0 lead in the first quarter.

Lynch’s traits and potential to be a top-tier quarterback in the NFL are undeniable, but he struggled on several occasions early this evening. Early on in the game, he was overthrowing his receivers and looked jittery and unsettled. One area of improvement that would certainly help correct some of these errors would be his footwork. Given his lack of experience playing underneath center, it is understandable that such an endeavor will take time.



However, it is important to realize that the offensive lineman he had protecting him did an awful job for most of the game (and most won't have jobs in the NFL in the next 48 hours). That being said, it is tough to get a true evaluation of a player’s capabilities given the porous situation the Broncos have in their offensive trench, but Lynch put his best foot forward and made the most of his longest learning experience on the NFL gridiron to date and registered another touchdown pass to Taylor on a play action bootleg in the third quarter.

Near the end of the game, Lynch made a forgettable rookie mistake, throwing an interception that was returned for a score by Cardinal defender Gabe Martin. It was clearly the low light of the night for Lynch, who finished the game going 13/22 for 214 yards, two touchdowns and the aforementioned pick.

At the end of the day, there is a lot to be excited about with Lynch and his future is incredibly bright. He has cannon for an arm, is accurate when given ample time in the pocket and runs a flawless bootleg which is pinnacle to Gary Kubiak’s offense. He will need time to learn the offense and the various nuances of the position in his continued transition from Memphis to the NFL, which tis something Broncos fans should demonstrate patience in regard to.



The blossoming of Lynch is worth wating for. His time may not be now with Trevor Siemian set to lead the Broncos in 2016, but it could be sooner than you think. If not at some point this year, certainly next year and undoubtedly, the future looks bright for him and the entire franchise.

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