Bronco Quarterbacks Are Feeling the Pain

The beat-up Broncos, trying desperately to find their way in the post-John Elway era, considered starting Chris Miller at quarterback when sore-shouldered Brian Griese didn’t practice earlier this week.

But Griese took enough snaps on Thursday for Coach Mike Shanahan to declare him ready to start against the Chargers. Still, Miller remained the soundest of Denver’s quarterbacks--Bubby Brister has a strained muscle in his left side--if only because Miller hasn’t played in a regular-season game since a series of concussions forced him into a three-year hiatus in 1995.

The Chargers are even worse off at quarterback. They haven’t been to the end zone in the last 10 quarters, a span in which they have suffered 14 turnovers by Jim Harbaugh and Erik Kramer.

In Kansas City, the Chiefs are averaging 126.3 yards per game rushing, the fifth-highest total in the league, and they’re doing it by committee.

In the absence of Kimble Anders, lost to Achilles’ tendon surgery, Donnell Bennett leads the team with 234 yards in 63 carries, Bam Morris has 188 yards in 60 carries and Rashaan Shehee has 175 yards in 50 carries.