Case Keenum threw 10 interceptions during the first eight games of the season. He hasn't thrown any since, but now, his coaches are telling him he's being too cautious.

There is playing quarterback in the NFL and there is playing quarterback for the Denver Broncos.

Case Keenum is beginning to realize it’s tougher to play here.

In the first half of this season, Keenum got guff for throwing interceptions as he had at least one in his first eight games with the Broncos, 10 in all.

He has stopped doing that. In fact, he hasn’t been picked in his last five games, a streak of 176 pass attempts.

However, Keenum was so tentative letting the ball go Sunday in a 20-14 loss to the San Francisco 49ers, head coach Vance Joseph is telling him what John Elway told Tim Tebow in 2011: Pull the trigger.

“I thought Case played his best football the last month," Joseph said. "Yesterday he was a little cautious with the ball.

"And the bottom line is we have three games left to play and he’s got to make more plays and sometimes taking some chances allow you to make more plays. There’s going to be turnovers, so he can’t worry about that. You can’t play this game perfect.

“But I want Case to be more aggressive, especially down the seams of those cover-three defenses.’’

Against the 49ers, Keenum was holding on to the ball longer than usual. Time and time again, he wouldn’t throw until he felt he was about to get hit.

Can’t blame him. His top two receivers (Emmanuel Sanders and Demaryius Thomas) and top two tight ends (Jeff Heuerman and Jake Butt) are now gone.

Keenum’s top two receiving targets Sunday – Tim Patrick and DaeSean Hamilton – were the Broncos’ No. 5 and 4 receivers through the first half of this season. But whatever the reasons, Keenum should get more than 186 yards from 42 pass attempts.

“I think it’s a combination of Case wanting to be safe with the ball and obviously seeing different looks,’’ Joseph said. “In my opinion, being safe with the ball allows you to have great numbers in that category, but as far as making plays on the field, you can’t be safe doing that. He’s got to take more chances down the middle of the field and he will tell you that.”

Meanwhile, the Cleveland Browns are coming to town Saturday with this exciting young quarterback. Baker Mayfield.