Trevor Siemian named as Broncos' starting QB

Quarterback Trevor Siemian, who has yet to throw a regular-season pass in the NFL, will start for the defending champion Denver Broncos when they open the regular season Sept. 8 against the Carolina Panthers.

The Broncos announced Monday that Siemian, a 2015 seventh-round pick, had been named the starter.

Denver's decision ends a quarterback battle between Siemian and Mark Sanchez to replace the retired Peyton Manning and Brock Osweiler, who joined the Houston Texans in the offseason.

The Broncos traded a conditional draft pick to the Philadelphia Eagles in March to acquire Sanchez. He is slated to count $4.5 million against the salary cap, but the Broncos would not have to surrender the pick if he is not on the roster to open the season.

Information from ESPN staff writer Jeff Legwold contributed to this report.