Browns’ QB contenders, Broncos’ defense collide

Tonight’s preseason game will test Cleveland’s QBs and
Denver’s defense.

DENVER (AP) — The Cleveland Browns are wondering who’s going to win their quarterback derby, and their trip to Denver could start to solve that mystery.

The Broncos are curious about how their depleted defense is going to stand up after dismal outings in San Francisco and Dallas, and who will win jobs up front and whether linebacker D.J. Williams can cut it in the middle.

With Browns quarterbacks out to stake their claim on the starter’s job and Denver’s defense focused on quieting the yells of new defensive boss Jim Bates, the exhibition game tonight (9 p.m., Channel 33, WKBN-AM 570) has plenty of intrigue.

The Broncos lost two incumbent starters on the defensive line this week: Ebenezer Ekuban, who had surgery Thursday to repair a ruptured Achilles’ tendon, and Gerard Warren, who was shipped to Oakland.

That would appear to open up chances for the rookies, but first-rounder Jarvis Moss is still making up for lost time after tweaking a knee and second-rounder Tim Crowder will miss the game with a sprained ankle that has sidelined him for two weeks.

Denver hurt on offense

The Broncos also are banged up on offense, where guard Ben Hamilton (concussion) and their top two running backs, Travis Henry (knee) and Mike Bell (hip), are sidelined.

Converted fullback Cecil Sapp will try to take advantage of Bell’s absence and show his coaches he can be counted on to be Henry’s primary backup, and rookie free agent Selvin Young will try to make the most of his carries to make the team.

Brandon Stokley will make his Broncos debut after recovering from a thigh injury that hampered his return from an Achilles’ tendon repair in the offseason.

But the big drama is who will put Cleveland’s quarterback drama to rest.

Browns coach Romeo Crennel has said he might not name a starter until the week before the Sept. 9 opener. He has Charlie Frye, Derek Anderson, Brady Quinn and Ken Dorsey to choose from.

Frye will start at QB

Frye will start against Denver, but so far he and Anderson have failed to impress the Browns coaches or their fans, who are clamoring to see more of Quinn, the rookie from Notre Dame who threw two fourth-quarter touchdown passes against Detroit in his NFL debut last weekend.

Quinn might get some time with the starters to show his stuff.

He went 13-of-20 for 155 yards and played with poise and confidence, something neither Frye nor Anderson has shown much of this month, but he downplayed his performance against candidates on the fringes of the Lions’ roster.

Crennel said Quinn will get more playing time against the Broncos but wouldn’t specify when or how much. But another strong showing could move Quinn past Anderson on the depth chart — if he hasn’t passed him already.

Quinn missed the first 11 days in a contract holdout but said he feels his game is coming around: “I feel good. I feel confident. I think things are starting to flow,” he said.