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QUINN TO MAKE HIS DEBUT
Last year’s Week 9 contest at Minnesota was the first time he’d ever missed an NFL game due to injury. It was the first Rams’ game he didn’t start since 2012. And after he tried to be effective in a pass-rushing role against the Bears in Week 10, the Rams shut Quinn down as he underwent season-ending back surgery.
“It sucked,” Quinn said after Thursday’s practice. “But I mean, it’s just an unfortunate accident. It happened, you just have to overcome it. It’s in the past, leave it in the past and try to make something happen this year.”
That process has been well underway since the start of the offseason program, as the team has brought Quinn along slowly. The defensive end mostly worked off to the side with trainers for the first couple of weeks, before participating in individual drills and a few team sessions. He’s been going full tilt since the start of camp, although there are days where the Rams back him off just a bit as a precaution.
“One of the biggest things you have to do with a competitor like him is hold him back,” defensive coordinator Gregg Williams said. “If we didn’t have the problem of holding him back, we have the wrong guy.”
Now, Quinn is set to make his 2016 preseason debut against the defending Super Bowl champion Broncos on Saturday night. Head coach Jeff Fisher said the plan is to have the D-lineman play for a couple series, and then in a few pass-rushing situations.
“I think I’ll have a few snaps, hopefully break that ice because it’s been a while since I really got out there,” Quinn said.
Everyone remembers Quinn’s spectacular 2013, in which he had 19.0 sacks. He wasn’t a slouch in 2014 either, coming away with 10.5 and going to his second consecutive Pro Bowl. And after playing through much discomfort last year, Quinn says he’s feeling more and more like himself once again.
“I’ve got to do a little bit extra just to be on the safe side,” Quinn said, giving credit to the training staff. “But every day, I feel pretty much rejuvenated.”
He’s also clearing the inevitable mental hurdle that comes with sustaining a season-ending injury.
“If you think about the injury, usually that’s when you kind of re-injure yourself. So I’m trying to just not think about it as much as possible,” Quinn said. “Of course, it’s a back surgery. It’ll get tight from time to time. But that’s around the time when we should start relaxing, cooling down — body starts settling. So, no, I don’t think it’s going to be anything to worry about.”
Saturday will be an important checkpoint in terms of performance and recovery for Quinn. And heading in, he’s feeling as if he’s returned to form.
“I feel like I’ve got the power back. I feel like I’ve got some explosion back,” Quinn said. “But, again, I haven’t played a game. So who knows where it’s truly at? Like I said, I feel great, but I guess the game will tell.”
EXTRA POINTS
— Fisher said generally, the Rams will add a series or two to what players did last week for playing time against Denver.
“There may be a few guys that participate in somewhat fewer snaps, but for the most part, we want to push this thing well into the second quarter, and we’ll go from there,” Fisher said.
Quinn, of course, would likely be an exception to that. And Todd Gurley
could be as well, as Fisher said he hadn’t yet decided how he’d distribute reps for the running back.“I was really pleased with what he did last week — I really haven’t decided,” Fisher said. “He’s getting a lot of great practice reps. When we kick off against the 49ers, his reps in the preseason are meaningless.”
The quarterbacks will go through a similar plan, although starter Case Keenum
is slated to see more time on the field. Keenum has played two series in each of the first two preseason games, and that number may increase to three or four depending on how the game goes. Jared Goff will come in from there, and Fisher said he would like to get Sean Mannion time this week as well.OPPONENT BREAKDOWN
The Broncos finished the 2015 season the way every would have liked to — holding the Lombardi Trophy with confetti falling as Super Bowl Champions.
But the defending champs have experienced some turnover on their roster, particularly at the quarterback position, as last year’s starters Peyton Manning and Brock Osweiler retired and signed with the Texans, respectively. However the QB competition shakes out, Denver will likely remain a contender because of its top-tier defense.
AT A GLANCE
Executive VP of Football Operations/General Manager — and Hall of Fame quarterback — John Elway hired former Texans head coach Gary Kubiak to take over as head coach in order to push the team from contender to champion and the gamble clearly paid dividends in Year 1. Despite shaky quarterback play from both Manning and at times Osweiler, the Broncos compiled a 12-4 record and ran the table in the postseason to win the Super Bowl in Kubiak’s first year at the helm.
Despite coming into the Super Bowl as underdogs to the Panthers, the Broncos’ defense got sacks and forced turnovers en route to a 24-10 victory. Denver’s No. 1 unit allowed led the league by allowing only 283.1 yards per game and was No. 4 in points allowed at 18.4.
Clearly, there have been some changes to both the offense and defense with the defending Super Bowl squad. Defensive end Malik Jackson signed with the Jaguars. Offensive lineman Evan Mathis signed with the Cardinals. Linebacker Danny Trevathan signed with the Bears. And Osweiler famously went to Houston. ??But the club matched Miami’s offer sheet to re-sign running back C.J. Anderson and signed vaunted pass rusher Von Miller to a six-year deal in July after placing the exclusive-rights franchise tag on him.
Still, the quarterback situation provides the most intrigue heading into this year. Denver drafted Trevor Siemian in the seventh round of the 2015 draft, and he spent his rookie season mostly confined to the sideline. Veteran Mark Sanchez is now on his third team, having arrived via a March trade with Philadelphia. And the Broncos traded up for first-round pick Paxton Lynch, who has flashed in his preseason action, but may need significant time in order to become ready to start.
WHO MAY NOT PLAY?
Tight end Jeff Heuerman, who entered training camp as the starting tight end, has been dealing with a hamstring injury and appears unlikely to be ready for Saturday.
Defensive lineman Derek Wolfe has ben away from the team dealing with a family issue, and with the missed practice, may not play.
Outside linebacker Demarcus Ware is fresh off the NFI list this week, and as such is fairly unlikely to play. After back surgery, his goal has been to be ready for the regular-season opener.
WHO ARE PLAYERS TO WATCH?
The obvious answer here is the three quarterbacks: Siemian, Sanchez, and Lynch. Each has had his moments, but Siemian appears to have the inside track to becoming the Broncos’ starter for Week 1.
Siemian will start Saturday’s contest against the Rams. Kubiak declined to say who would come in second at quarterback, but at this point, it seems that both Sanchez and Lynch could be the backup to start the season.
Sanchez has played well in spurts, but he’s also fell victim to the turnovers that have plagued him throughout his career. Last week for instance, the USC product was in the midst of a good-looking two-minute drive, when he fumbled in the red zone. The 49ers recovered but turned it over themselves before Sanchez fumbled again. Those are the kinds of plays that could keep him out of the QB-1 role.
Lynch, on the other hand, just doesn’t seem to have the requisite experience needed to start from Day 1. That said, he has shown an ability to launch the ball all over the field with his arm strength. Plus, he’s displayed a proclivity for escaping a collapsing pocket and pick up yards with his legs.
