Broncos will start rookie Brandstater with top two quarterbacks injured

A bit bemused by being chosen to be the starting quarterback in the Denver Broncos’ last exhibition, Tom Brandstater said his confidence has grown and expected to help the Broncos do something they haven’t managed to do yet.

Although it seemed that he was chosen simply because the Broncos had no better choice as top two quarterbacks Kyle Orton and Chris Simms were both kept out by injuries, Coach Josh McDaniels did see something good in the rookie.


“He’s a mature kid and he’s really picked up on some of the things that sometimes take quarterbacks longer to do, run the huddle, get the formations lined up and that kind of stuff,” McDaniels said. “He’s getting better every day and that’s what we like to see out of our young guys.”

The sixth-round pick out of Fresno State had been in lack of playing time previously with Orton and backup Simms virtually got all the work. He got the first chance of playing an exhibition when he replaced Simms on short notice against the Seattle Seahawks. Then he played more than a half in Sunday’s 27-17 loss to Chicago. Then, things become even better and he will start the Broncos final preseason game on Thursday against the Arizona Cardinals.

It still remains uncertain whether Orton and Simms will be able to return to practice next week and be available for the Broncos’ Sept. 13 opener at Cincinnati.