While the Denver Broncos are preparing for a road trip to Los Angeles to take on the Chargers, one thing remains clear; Trevor Siemian is still the quarterback of this team.

“Trevor is our quarterback,” declared Head coach Vance Joseph after practice on Wednesday. “Right now we are 3-2 and as a team we are getting better. Nothing has been perfect. No one has been perfect, including myself. Absolutely he’s our quarterback.”

Siemian without a doubt must be better for Denver to have any chance at even sniffing the post-season and it starts with taking better care of the football. Since the beat down on the Cowboys, Siemian has thrown twice as many interceptions as touchdowns. Both of the team’s losses also came with multiple Siemian interceptions.

“Taking care of the football is paramount obviously,” said Siemian. “Good stuff to learn from. You know I can’t be doing that because I understand with our team that if I don’t turn the ball over we are going to be in dang near every game. I’ll learn from it and we’ll be alright.”

When a team is struggling the most popular player in town is often the back-up quarterback. While cries for quarterback Brock Osweiller slowly begin to arise, Siemian’s teammates remain confident in their starter.

“We believe in 13,” said running back C.J. Anderson. “We know when we protect 13 and 13 hasn’t to worry about nobody around his feet and you know he’s standing in the pocket confident and strong, he can make every throw in this league and get the ball down the field.”

Siemian will have to get back on track without a few key pieces. Wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders is out for at least this week with an ankle injury. Fellow receivers Demaryius Thomas and Cody Latimer also did not practice Wednesday with a lower thigh and knee injury respectively. Thomas is fully expected to play Sunday.

However, right tackle Menelik Watson was also out of practice with a serious calf injury he suffered against the Giants. Watson has struggled to start the season and has a history of injuries as well. Donald Stephenson is expected to start in Watson’s place Sunday.

Adversity hits a team every season and the Broncos find themselves in the midst of it now. The next month will determine if Denver is a legitimate playoff contender or if they will be sitting at home come January for the second consecutive season.

“We can’t panic and we can’t blame,” said Joseph. “We have to do more, all of us coaches and players. It’s (adversity) here okay. Let’s deal with it and get through it.”

The challenge ahead couldn’t get any tougher. Starting Sunday, Denver will be road underdogs in three straight games. Two of those matchups will be against the teams atop the AFC and NFC in the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles. The Broncos will then host the defending champion New England Patriots on November 12^th.

Led by Demarcus Ware, the 2015 team lived by the phrase “iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another,” and that season ended in a Super Bowl victory. While Super Bowl talk is currently out of the conversation, it’s time for the 2017 team to tap back into that ferocity and passion.

A welcome rookie debut

Broncos’ fifth round draft pick Jake Butt made his practice debut Wednesday. The rookie tight end injured his knee in Michigan’s bowl game and was considered by many to have a first round grade prior to the injury. Joseph noted that Butt is not expected to play this week, but will be ready to come up to the active roster soon.

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