Super Bowl 50 MVP and Denver Broncos outside linebacker Von Miller is projected to make his NFL preseason betting debut against the Green Bay Packers after sitting out the previous two games. Miller has said he’s willing to play as many snaps as you’d hear in a beatnik poetry reading (not in so many words, though) but head coach Vance Joseph is still undecided. “We’ve played out starters very few snaps,” Joseph said per the Denver Post. “The first game it was three on defense. The second game it was for one quarter. Von is one of our better players, so we want to protect him.”
- Date: Saturday, August 26th
- Time: 9:05 PM
- Venue: Sports Authority Field at Mile High
Online Sportsbook NFL Preseason Odds:
Packers +3 (-120) 42 (-110)
Broncos -3 (EV) 42 (-110)
You got your head in the clouds and your world’s upside down
Barring any unforeseen event Miller is a for-sure starter, as will be Trevor Siemian – who beat Paxton Lynch for the starting quarterback spot. And do you know why Lynch lost?
To be legit NFL QB, Paxton Lynch needs to get his head out of … the clouds. New column: https://t.co/h2K7mlPcit via @denverpost
— Mark Kiszla (@markkiszla) August 24, 2017
Inside Kiszla spins a yarn in which Lynch gets distracted by a passing place which could be either a made-up story or a metaphor. Starting positions still up for grabs include left guard and third wide receiver on offense, and depending on when players such as Derek Wolfe, Jared Crick, and Shaquil Barrett are set to come back from injury, outside linebacker and defensive end on defense. The rest of the starting spots should be settled following the game with the Packers. A game which safety TJ Ward is likely to miss because “he’s still nursing a hamstring,” Joseph said. “We’re taking it slow with T.J. Obviously, Week 1 is important and that’s the goal for him.” Meanwhile, safeties Will Parks and Justin Simmons have both made good use of the extra time Ward’s injury has afforded them to impress the head coach.
The Broncos will not Eat Bulaga!
Green Bay offensive tackle Bryan Bulaga will sit out Saturday’s NFL preseason betting game with an injured ankle. “We’re still doing some testing. I do not have a timeline,” head coach Mike McCarthy said via Packers.com. “He’s feeling better today than he was yesterday.”
Bulaga’s absence could not only open the door for either Kyle Murphy or Jason Spriggs to get the nod as starting right tackle, but might also determine how time quarterback Aaron Rodgers spends on the field. Both Murphy and Spriggs – who were selected in the 2016 draft – have earned praised from McCarthy. The former, of whom the coach said was having “a heckuva camp,” had a heckuva showing against the Redskins on Saturday as well. The latter, meanwhile, has been a left tackle for most of camp but has gotten used to flipping sides. “Whatever happens, happens,” Murphy said. “I’m sure (Bulaga) will be all right, but I’m ready for whatever.” If all else goes as expected, this will be the last NFL preseason betting appearance for the lion’s share of the starters.