While the competition makes headlines, Trevor Siemian makes plays. While the competition attracts reporters, Siemian lives in the margins.

He is the Other Guy in the Broncos’ quarterback derby. The defending NFL champions return to work Tuesday for organized team activities. Mark Sanchez could be sans brace on his left thumb, as the healing process continues, potentially allowing for snaps under center. Rookie first-round draft pick Paxton Lynch will possess another week of experience in the playbook. And then there is Siemian, who will quietly go about his business.

No one is predicting that Siemian will be the Broncos’ starting QB. But his candidacy should not be dismissed out of hand, given his talent and intelligence. Related Articles September 13, 2020 How Broncos quarterbacks fared in their second year in the NFL

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“I think Trevor has a maturity to him. He’s kind of the sleeper, I would say. Trevor knows the offense. He’s very comfortable and can throw the ball too,” coach Gary Kubiak said. “We’ve also seen him make big plays in the preseason games under the lights. I wouldn’t sleep on Trevor to win the job, either.”

Siemian, 23, landed in Denver because of a cruel twist. He suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee Nov. 23, 2014, ending his Northwestern career. His college coach, Pat Fitzgerald, called the results “heartbreaking,” a nod to Siemian’s leadership.

The injury left Siemian available to the Broncos in the seventh round of the 2015 draft. Even hobbled, he brought intrigue, impressing Kubiak on film with his play in adverse conditions in Evanston, Ill. Siemian, even on one leg at this time a year ago, dropped jaws with his arm strength. Maybe he can’t throw a spiral through a tornado, but he was clocked at 88 mph as a shortstop firing throws across the diamond. That was in high school. He has only become stronger since.

It just goes relatively unnoticed. He was the 250th pick in the draft. To put that in perspective, Tom Brady went 199th in 2000. Not a lot of starters come from this far out, let alone stars. Siemian’s focus, however, remains narrow. Punch the clock. Go to work.

“Obviously those two guys are pretty good players,” Siemian said. “Paxton is a really talented guy. He hasn’t done a lot yet, but there is a reason he was a first-round pick. He’s a big, strong guy — athletic, big arm. Mark knows what he’s doing. So we’ve got a good room. It’s going to be really competitive, and I’m excited to be a part of it.”

Siemian played last season. Sort of. He took a knee at the end of the first half against Pittsburgh. What he did last season was become a human sponge.

“I wasn’t playing a ton, but I had 18 (Peyton Manning) in the room and I had Brock (Osweiler), so I was learning from those guys,” Siemian said. “At the end of the preseason, you kind of feel like you’re getting in a little bit of a rhythm and then you go on ice for a little bit for the year. I’m ready to get back to it and knock a little rust off, but I feel good.”

With Sanchez limited by his thumb injury, Siemian led the first team last week. This is a time to make impressions and build momentum. The depth chart matters but means something only as the Broncos trudge into August.

By then, if Siemian is still in the mix, everyone will notice. Until that point, he is fine working in the shadows.

“I feel great,” Siemian said. “I feel really confident at this point. Last year at this time, I had the knee (injury) and was swimming a little bit in the playbook. I’m light years ahead of where I was last year. I still have a lot of work to do, but I feel pretty confident.”