Tim Tebow will see plenty of action in Denver Broncos pre-season finale
The Vikings' final pre-season game of 2010 will take place at the Metrodome in Minneapolis, where they will take on the Denver Broncos.
The pre-season finale, much like the opener, is a game in which the starters are not on the field for an extended period of time. This is to avoid any injuries to key players with the regular season just around the corner. As a result the focus will not be on Broncos’ starting quarterback Kyle Orton, but rather on rookie Tim Tebow.
While Orton will start the game and play a few offensive series, Tebow, who appears to have taken over the backup quarterback job from veteran Brady Quinn, should replace Orton in the first half and should play well into the third quarter.
"You're going to get a full dose of Tim Tebow," Broncos tackle Ryan Harris said. "He'll be playing a lot."
Tebow completed 13-of-23 passes for 177 yards and one touchdown during his first NFL pre-season with Denver. This exhibition contest will be important for the former Florida Gator as he looks to improve his game and gain valuable playing time. Although he may have edged out Quinn on the Broncos’ depth chart, he is not ready for the starting job and this is unquestionably Orton’s team. But that’s a good thing for Tebow— at least according to Broncos’ legendary quarterback John Elway.
"I think the good thing for Tim is all the pressure's not on him to go in and play right away and play well. So, it's actually a good situation for him," said Elway, who led Denver to two Super Bowl victories.
Much attention of this final pre-season game will also be placed on the potential return of running backs Knowshon Moreno and Correll Buckhalter.
Buckhalter (back) is expected to play a few snaps during Thursday's pre-season game, while Moreno is expected to be a game time decision. However, it's unlikely that he will play in the Broncos' pre-season finale as he continues to rest his injured right hamstring.
Not that that should come as a shock to anybody, but Brett Favre will probably see very limited action in this pre-season game as he prepares for the season opener on September 9 against the New Orleans Saints. This is be a much anticipated rematch of last year’s NFC Championship Game, which the Saints won.
Tarvaris Jackson will replace Favre and see the bulk of the Vikings snaps and eventually Sage Rosenfels will come in and play in the fourth quarter.
The Minnesota Vikings have been inconsistent this pre-season after winning their opener against the St. Louis Rams 28-7. They failed to maintain the same form against San Francisco 49ers in the second game, but rebounded in week three and defeated the Seattle Seahawks 24-13 last Saturday. Now that the Vikings have acquired new receivers in Javon Walker and former Miami Dolphins’ wideout Greg Camarillo, it will be important for them to continue to get familiar with the play calling and get in rhythm with the teammates.
Both played well in their Vikings’ debut against Seattle and made quite a first impression.
Camarillo had four catches for 47 yards and Walker hauled in a 25-yard touchdown pass.
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