Chad Kelly and the Lowsman
By Kelly Smith
![NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 01: Quarterback Chad Kelly #10 of the Mississippi Rebels celebrates during the trophy ceremony after their 48-20 win over the Oklahoma State Cowboys in the Allstate Sugar Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 1, 2016 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 01: Quarterback Chad Kelly #10 of the Mississippi Rebels celebrates during the trophy ceremony after their 48-20 win over the Oklahoma State Cowboys in the Allstate Sugar Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 1, 2016 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/832d6bce5ee6f2968111cad2c4164e66bc2c34168870d5fecce77ed255ec67f4.jpg)
With The Broncos
Chad Kelly spent the entire 2017 season healing the injuries to his knee and wrist. He entered the 2018 season as the third and last quarterback on The Broncos depth chart, facing an uncertain future.
When Chad Kelly entered The Vikings preseason game, the Vikings led 27 to 14. Royce Freeman had scored a 23-yard touchdown run set up by an interception, and Isaiah McKenzie had scored on a 78-yard punt return.
Denver Broncos
Case Keenum and Paxton Lynch had combined for 29 yards passing. At that moment I was thinking it, and you were, too. Shades of the 5 and 11 season. Our coaches can’t coach. Our offense is offensive.
Then “Swag” Kelly entered the game. I don’t care if he was playing against the third string. He was playing against a bunch of white and purple jerseys that were pushing the orange ones all over the field. He passed 14 for 21 for 177 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. He also tied Royce Freeman for the team high in rushing with 38 yards.
All of the sudden our new coaching staff didn’t look so bad anymore. There was hope for the new offense. The idiots that let Kyle Sloter walk were the same idiots that drafted Chad Kelly. Hey, maybe they weren’t idiots after all! I didn’t even have to talk any Broncos fans off a ledge after the Minnesota game.
Kelly was promoted to 2nd string following the Vikings game. As Vance Joseph explained in his press conference, “He’s done a fine job for us. He’s been really competitive, he’s played fast, he’s played with confidence, and he’s moved the ball.”
Then, during The Bears preseason game, fans were chanting Kelly’s name…