CARSON, Calif. — Ten games into his sensational rookie season, Broncos running back can score two touchdowns like he did in Sunday’s 23-22 win over the Los Angeles Chargers and it feels and looks normal.
“Thatap (the) typical Phillip Lindsay,” linebacker said. “I wasn’t surprised.”
Lindsay scored the Broncos’ first touchdown (41-yard run) and gave them a 20-19 lead early in the fourth quarter on a two-yard scoring carry. Lindsay, who started even though (ankle) was active, carried 11 times for 79 yards and caught four passes for 27 yards.
“He’s growing before our eyes,” Broncos coach said. “He’s an NFL first-, second- and third-down back and itap amazing at his size what he can do on all three downs — catching the ball, protecting (the quarterback) and running. He’s a good little football player. Obviously, itap no fluke.”
Lindsay’s first touchdown came one play after the Broncos’ successful fake punt. He burst up the middle and got seal-out blocks from center and left guard .
“I had lanes,” Lindsay said. “For us, we needed to be physical and be able to run the ball for us to win this game.”
Lindsay’s second touchdown came on a direct snap “Wildcat” formation. For the season, he has six total touchdowns.
Offensive line shines. The Broncos’ rebuilt offensive line did not allow a sack, two weeks after center sustained a season-ending broken leg and two days after left guard was ruled out for the season with a torn ACL. Elijah Wilkinson started at right guard, McGovern moved from right guard to center and Turner played left guard.
“Incredible,” quarterback said. “To not give up any sacks was big time.”
Right tackle Jared Veldheer credited McGovern for his pre-snap communication.
“Connor did an awesome job,” Veldheer said. “There wasn’t a time where I felt I was in the dark. Everybody stayed composed and stayed with their (assignment) rules and we were able to be productive.”
Joseph said the offensive line received game balls for their performance. The Broncos did not allow a sack for the first time this year.
Fake punt success. Trailing 6-0 in the second quarter, the Broncos needed a spark so Joseph approved of a fake punt call.
Punter Colby Wadman drifted to his left before throwing to , who gained 12 yards on fourth-and-5.
“It turned out to be pretty big,” Janovich said. “We worked the heck out of it all week (in practice) and they said, ‘Get ready, we’re calling it no matter what.’”
Lindsay scored his first touchdown on the next play.
“Every single time we ran it (in practice), we were completing it,” Wadman said. “I was super confident. I didn’t have any (extra) adrenaline, honestly, because I knew it was such a short pass.”
Said Joseph: “We try to have a fake punt in each week. It was the perfect time (and) the perfect yard-line to call it.”
Two players injured. Broncos receiver (knee) and cornerback (evaluated for a concussion) were injured and did not return. Hamilton was playing for the first time since spraining his MCL at Arizona in Week 7.
“Same knee; he aggravated it (but) not as bad as the first time,” Joseph said.
Cornerback Chris Harris and linebacker Josey Jewell missed snaps but returned to the game.
Footnotes. Chargers defensive end (foot) made his season debut and had one tackle and one quarterback hit. … Los Angeles’ 14 penalties for 120 yards were both season highs for a Broncos’ opponent. … Joseph said he thought about challenging Keenum’s failed two-point conversion but there was not a good enough replay.
Reader support helps bring you quality local journalism like this. Please consider becoming a subscriber.
.
