Broncos QB Paxton Lynch (shoulder) says he's 'close'

The Broncos announced on Monday that Brock Osweiler will be making another start at quarterback when they take on the Patriots in Denver on Sunday night, which wasn’t much of a surprise given coach Vance Joseph’s take on where Paxton Lynch is after dealing with a right shoulder injury in the first half of the season.

“Close. I feel like right now if I was needed to play, obviously I’m going to help the team however I can,” Lynch said, via the Denver Post. “But that’s up to the training staff to decide. … I think they’ve done a good job with me so far in the training room and my reps and what not. I know they wanted to ease me into it, so it’s what they’re doing.”

Joseph said Lynch hasn't played football as a result of the injury and that it wouldn't be fair to Lynch and the team to throw him in there. It sounds like Lynch just needs to get back up to speed. A loss this week may quicken the process. Odds seem pretty good Lynch will see the field sooner rather than later the way this season is going for Denver.