Chad Kelly promoted to Broncos No. 2 QB over former 1st-round pick Lynch

The Denver Broncos shuffled things behind Case Keenum on their quarterback depth chart.

Head coach Vance Joseph announced on Monday that Chad Kelly has been promoted to backup quarterback, and Paxton Lynch, who the Broncos traded up to select in the first round of the 2016 draft, has been dropped to No. 3.

The move comes after fans booed Lynch when he threw for only 24 yards and tossed an interception during the Broncos' preseason game on Saturday night. Fans were also chanting Kelly's name as he threw two touchdown passes and an interception in relief of Lynch.

"Chad has played well. He played well in scrimmage and he played well Saturday night, so he deserves a chance to be the two right now," Joseph said.

Kelly, the nephew of Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly, was a seventh-round pick in 2017. He had yet to play in an NFL game - preseason or otherwise - until Saturday due to knee and wrist injuries.

Kelly led Denver's third-team offense on two scoring drives after Lynch's poor showing.

"Obviously disappointed," Joseph said of Lynch's reaction to the news. "But he understands it's a performance business. He has great potential - physical potential - but it's got to equal performance eventually. He understands that."

Lynch lost a quarterback battle to Trevor Siemian during training camp in 2017. Siemian later struggled during the regular season, but Lynch still couldn't regain the job long term.

The Broncos moved up five spots in the first round of the 2016 draft, giving up a third-round selection to grab Lynch.

"It's really more about what Chad's done, honestly," Joseph said of the depth-chart shuffle. "Chad has played well. He's played with poise, he's played with confidence. He moved the ball for us on Saturday night. It's been that way since the spring. He had a great spring, he's had a great camp and so it's his turn to be the two. He's earned that right."