ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Denver Broncos rookie quarterback Paxton Lynch believes he can get himself into the discussion to be the team's starting quarterback over the next month.
When the Broncos closed out their offseason program, coach Gary Kubiak said Mark Sanchez and Trevor Siemian were "neck-and-neck" in the battle to be the starter for the defending Super Bowl champions. Kubiak added that it was not surprising that Lynch, the team's first-round pick in April's draft, was behind at that point.
But Lynch said he believed he still could affect Kubiak's decision and get into the mix when he was asked Tuesday just before the Broncos' rookies went through their second practice of the week.
"I definitely think I have the opportunity to better myself and put myself up in that position to play right away or sooner than I had thought," Lynch said. "I knew those guys were going to be ahead of me just because of experience -- Trevor his experience in the offense and Mark his experience in the league and me being a rookie, and this is the first time I've seen a playbook like that."
That said, Lynch has reported with the rest of the Broncos' rookies -- the team's veteran players report Wednesday -- after some time away from the team complex ready to push for more. He added he's not ready to step aside and let Sanchez and Siemian decide things on their own.
The Broncos acquired Sanchez in a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles shortly after Brock Osweiler signed as a free agent with the Houston Texans in March, while Siemian was the Broncos' seventh-round draft pick in the 2015 draft and was on the roster throughout the Super Bowl season.
Siemian was the team's No. 2 quarterback for six games when Peyton Manning missed seven starts with a foot injury,
"From a competition standpoint, obviously, as a competitor, you're not gonna say, 'Yeah, I'll take the backseat in this,'" Lynch said. "It's my job as a rookie to push those guys that are ahead of me however I can."
Kubiak has not announced any decision on naming a starter in the wake of Manning's retirement and Osweiler's departure. Sanchez worked with the starters more in the offense during OTAs and minicamp than Siemian did, but when the Broncos adjourned their offseason work in June, Kubiak declared it a tie between the two.
And Kubiak has said he wants to see one of the team's quarterbacks "step forward" in word and deed to earn the job. Kubiak has also said he's willing to take the decision deep into the preseason.
The Broncos open the regular season Sept. 8 at home against the Carolina Panthers.