Tim Tebow will get his first start against Raiders has 5 comments

Dec 19th 2010, 00:24 | FFN-Score: 68 points

Tebow Time has arrived for the Denver Broncos.

Rookie quarterback Tim Tebow will make his first NFL start Sunday at Oakland, according to a league source, after starter Kyle Orton couldn't throw in practice this week because of bruised ribs.

A Broncos spokesman said Saturday that the team hadn't made an announcement about its quarterback situation and that Orton was still considered questionable. The Denver Post reported that Orton would travel for the game against the AFC West rival Raiders.

Under now-fired coach Josh McDaniels, the Broncos traded three draft picks last April to move up and select Tebow 25th overall, but he has made just cameo appearances in six games this season. Tebow has run 12 times for 28 yards and three touchdowns, and his only pass went for a 3-yard score to Spencer Larsen during a Week 10 rout of the Kansas City Chiefs.

Orton ranks fourth in the NFL with 3,653 passing yards this season, but the Broncos have struggled with him at quarterback, going 5-18 over his last 23 games as the starter.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.