Brock Osweiler named starter against Eagles

Mike Klis of 9News announced via Twitter minutes ago that the Denver Broncos have named Brock Osweiler the starter against the Eagles this Sunday in Philadelphia.

Klis reported that multiple league sources told his station that Vance Joseph will inform players this morning during their team meeting of the quarterback change.

Bronco players were off yesterday, but Trevor Siemian and Brock Osweiler apparently were asked to come to team headquarters Tuesday night to tell them face-to-face.

When backup quarterback Paxton Lynch went down with a shoulder injury in preseason and was expected to miss at least the first month of the regular season, the Broncos quickly signed Osweiler to a one-year deal, paying him the veterans' minimum of $775,000.

At the time John Elway noted the importance of having a quarterback with experience just in case.

"I think with the opportunity we had to get Brock back, we're excited about that opportunity to have that experience there with Brock,'' said Elway. "Plus with Paxton, you never know with the throwing shoulder.''

With Lynch a week or two away from being healthy enough to play, and Siemian’s performance heading in a downward trend, Joseph finally made a move that seemed inevitable after the 29-19 loss to Kansas City on Monday Night Football.

Osweiler will be in familiar territory as he is once again asked to keep the Broncos from sinking - something he was tasked with in 2015 when he came in for an injured and failing Peyton Manning. Oz went 5-2 in his seven games as signal caller, which helped get the Broncos their much coveted Super Bowl 50 title.

Osweiler moved on to the Texans the following season, despite some wooing from Elway to stay in Denver. He signed a four-year, $72 million contract and put up an 8-6 showing in Houston. But despite a playoff win, Osweiler’s rocky relationship with his head coach ended in a trade to the Cleveland Browns during the offseason where Osweiler couldn’t even win the starting job.

Siemian has been named the Broncos starter two seasons in a row following Training Camp “competitions.” Last season he had 18 touchdowns and 10 interceptions and an 8-6 record as a starter, missing two games for injury.

This season Siemian started off well, throwing six touchdowns and just two interceptions, but beginning with the loss in Week 3 to the Bills, No. 13’s numbers have been on a skid. He has thrown three touchdowns and eight interceptions, leading to three losses in a row.