So, are we about to see Tom Brandstater at quarterback for the Denver Broncos?

OK, that might not be the case, but the sixth-round rookie from Fresno State couldn’t have played much worse than Chris Simms did in the second half in last week's loss at Washington, the Broncos' third in a row since a 6-0 start.

And now, with word that Broncos starter Kyle Orton has torn ligaments in his left ankle, not the right one that sidelined him last year in Chicago, one has to wonder if Brandstater would give Denver a better chance at victory than Simms.

Now, this may be jumping the gun a little bit, but considering Simms, who hasn’t started a regular-season game since 2006, was just 3-of-13 for 13 yards in Sunday's 27-17 loss to Washington, why not give the rookie a chance? This especially holds true if things go south more than they have in the past three weeks.

Orton wants to play in Sunday’s crucial AFC West showdown with San Diego. But Simms got the first-team reps in practice Wednesday. Brandstater also may be in line for more work if Orton’s injury lingers. Coach Josh McDaniels certainly isn’t ruling it out.

“That’ll all depend. He could get a few reps,” McDaniels said prior to Wednesday’s practice. “If Kyle is not practicing, yes, he will get a few reps. He always takes plenty of the defense’s reps when the defense is out there. We try to get him a lot of work against high-level competition.”

Now this may be farfetched, but he might be getting a lot more than that if Orton can’t go and Simms’ play doesn’t pick up soon. What do the Broncos have to lose after dropping three straight games and the outright lead in the AFC West?

---MICHAEL HICKS.