Broncos Feeling the Pain

The Denver Broncos aren’t just looking to rebound from Sunday’s 28-20 loss at Minnesota, they’re looking for a quarterback.

Jake Plummer is out for three more weeks with a broken foot, and Steve Beuerlein will be sidelined indefinitely with a broken pinkie on his throwing hand. Third quarterback Danny Kanell finished Sunday’s game and played well, but the Broncos would have to turn to receiver Rod Smith if Kanell went down.

“We will need another quarterback,� Coach Mike Shanahan said. “Steve’s finger is broken. He will probably be out four to five weeks, maybe longer. I don’t know the medical report on him yet.�

Of the available free-agent quarterbacks, the one who makes the most sense is Jarious Jackson, cut by the Broncos in August after he was beat out for the No. 3 job by Kanell. Another possibility is Neil O’Donnell, a 12-year veteran who has played for Pittsburgh, the New York Jets, Cincinnati and Tennessee. More remote possibilities could be Danny Wuerffel or Jeff George.

“We have a few guys we’re thinking about,� Shanahan said. “Right now, I can’t tell you for sure who we are going to bring in or what direction we’ll go.�

The Broncos have one thing weighing in their favor -- their bye week. They get a week off, more time for Plummer to heal, after playing at Baltimore on Sunday and playing host to New England on Nov. 3.

-- Sam Farmer