Broncos' Lynch 'close' to return, will play if needed

Trevor Siemian and Brock Osweiler combined to throw five interceptions in the Denver Broncos' last two games. So many are hoping the team turns to Paxton Lynch.

Lynch missed the first five weeks of the season as he nursed a shoulder injury sustained in the preseason. He only resumed throwing on Oct. 11. As a result, head coach Vance Joseph is wary about throwing him into game action.

"He's missed so much time, so to put him in an NFL game Week 10 wouldn't be fair to our football team or fair to Paxton," Joseph said, according to Nicki Jhabvala of the Denver Post.

Desperate times may call for desperate measures, however. The Broncos have lost four in a row and the latest defeat came in embarrassing fashion; a 51-23 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday.

The Broncos rank last in the league in turnover differential. Siemian and Osweiler have combined to throw 12 interceptions. Right now, Lynch is the third option, and he said he's "close" to making his return.

"I feel like right now if I was needed to play, obviously I'm going to help the team however I can," the 2016 first-round pick said.

"But that's up to the training staff to decide. ... I think they've done a good job with me so far in the training room and my reps and what not. I know they wanted to ease me into it, so it's what they're doing."