Wednesday NFL buzz: Trevor Siemian takes blame for hits
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Siemian takes blame for hits
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — After Denver Broncos quarterback Siemian was hit 17 times Sunday against the New Orleans Saints – and taking anywhere from eight to 12 vicious shots – is there a way to develop a knack for not taking on hits at such full force? There were times when Siemian was walloped, pulverized, tossed and hit late out of bounds.
“I don’t know if there’s a knack,’’ Siemian said. “I probably got hit too many times. A lot of that is on me. But I’m no different than anybody else – whatever it takes and very, very lucky and happy to get the win down there.’’
Behind Siemian’s two touchdown passes, 11 of 13 completions on third downs and 258 yards passing, the Broncos defeated the Saints, 25-23.
Siemian was also sacked six times. So let’s get this straight. He’s the one taking the shots, and it’s his fault?
“One time last week I was too deep (in the pocket),’’ he said. “It’s hard enough for our tackles to block those guys. They’re (opposing pass rushers) on scholarship, too. When you get that deep in the pocket it’s too tough on those guys. For a lack of a better word I’m kind of screwing them over. There’s some of that and you’ve got to get rid of the ball on time, sometimes. I’m still getting the feel for that.’’
— Mike Klis, KUSA
Levy returns for Lions
DeAndre Levy is back, on the practice field at least. Now the Detroit Lions will see how quickly their star linebacker can get ready to play in games.
Levy returned to practice today for the first time since injuring his knee in a Week 1 win over the Indianapolis Colts.
He was not available in the locker room before practice, and Lions coach Jim Caldwell declined to say how long he thinks it will take Levy to get back into game shape.
"Not certain," Caldwell said before practice. "We’ll see whenever he gets there."
Levy has played in parts of just two games since signing a four-year, $33-million extension with the Lions in August 2015.
He suffered a hip injury in the preseason last year and was limited to just 17 defensive snaps before undergoing surgery to repair a torn labrum in his hip, then opened training camp this year on the nonfootball injury list due to a knee injury.
— Dave Birkett, Detroit Free Press
Jets' first-round pick to return
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. – New York Jets rookie linebacker Darron Lee hadn’t even tried to pick himself up from the grass at University of Phoenix Stadium. But he could already tell what the pain in his right ankle meant.
“I knew, probably like the first 15 seconds I was like ‘Yeah, it’s going to be pretty bad, it’s going to keep me out,’” Lee said of the Week 6 injury during a 28-3 loss to the Cardinals. “Aside from the fact that it hurt really, really, really bad.”
Lee, hasn’t been on the field since, missing three straight games with a sprained ankle. But after practicing fully on Friday, the Jets’ first round pick is set to return for Sunday’s game against the Rams.
Lee admitted the last three weeks have been difficult.
“It sucks,” Lee said. “Not being out there with the guys to help the team win, that’s what hurts the most. And especially if you’re losing, it also hurts because, ‘What could I have done to at least help put us in a better position?’
“So it’s definitely been tough, and boring for sure,” Lee said. “You’re just sitting around. I don’t like that. I’m always a guy that likes to be active in some kind of way.
— Andy Vasquez, The Bergen (N.J.) Record
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