Fifty times, Adam Weber pulled his college jersey over his shoulder pads and started a game at Minnesota.
Fifty straight games, he lined up behind center and made all the calls, a Big Ten record for consecutive starts by a quarterback.
He now lives on the other side of the coin as an NFL rookie.
“I would like to have been out there, but I know it takes time. I know it’s a process,” Weber said. “When I was in college, I redshirted as a freshman. I kind of took that same mentality, to grow, get mentally strong so if and when you do get that opportunity, you can go out there and execute the offense without making too many mistakes.”
Weber could get that chance Thursday night in Arizona when the Broncos close out the preseason. His only playing time in the preseason so far was a selection of handoffs to finish out a victory over Buffalo on Aug. 20.
The rookie did not play against the Cowboys in the preseason opener or against the Seahawks on Saturday night.
With all of the Broncos’ efforts to divide the practice plays among their top three quarterbacks, Weber often has done plenty of waiting to get snaps in workouts.
“Of course you want to come out here and get a lot of reps and play,” said Weber, who signed with the Broncos as an undrafted rookie just before training camp opened. “But I knew it was going to be a process, without having (organized team activities), jumping right in here being behind as it is.
“I just take it day by day because I can get called into the coach’s office on any morning. I consider myself lucky and just try to get better.”
Asked after Monday’s practice if he expects Weber to play Thursday night, Broncos coach John Fox said, “It’ll be a game-time decision.”
Jeff Legwold: 303-954-2359 or jlegwold@denverpost.com
