ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — It’s officially Tebow Time in Denver.
Coach John Fox said Tuesday he’ll start Tim Tebow against the Miami Dolphins when the Broncos return from their bye week.
Tebow supplants Kyle Orton, who has struggled since winning the job in training camp.
“Well, I think 1-4 has a lot to do with it,” Fox said. “We haven’t gotten it done as a football team. It’s not one guy. It’s not all Kyle Orton’s fault. But we do have to make adjustments, we have to change and we have to do something to win football games.”
Tebow said he was “honored to get this opportunity. I’m very excited. … I just know that every day I’m going to come out here and practice every day I can.”
Orton said he was disappointed but vowed to support Tebow and the rest of his teammates.
“I’m disappointed with everything,” Orton said. “I wish I could have played better. I wish we had a better record. There’s a lot of things, but reality is what it is.”
Tebow had his troubles - rust, three fumbled snaps and six misfires in 10 pass attempts - but he ran for a touchdown and threw for another while energizing the Broncos.
Orton, meanwhile, was just 6-for-13 for 34 yards against the Chargers and threw his seventh interception, tied with Philadelphia’s Michael Vick and San Diego’s Philip Rivers for most in the NFL.
Orton, who is in the final year of his contract after coming to Denver in a trade for Jay Cutler, is 6-21 since winning his first six games as Denver’s starter.
The Broncos tried to trade Orton, who is making $9 million this season, when the lockout ended. But talks with Miami broke down, and Fox instead threw open the quarterback competition, something for which Tebow proved ill-prepared.
Orton had worked extensively with teammates in workouts organized by safety Brian Dawkins during the lockout. So had Tebow, but he also spent time pitching products and his autobiography across the country.
Colts activate Evans with Addai uncertain
INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Colts have activated running back Darren Evans from the practice squad.
The move comes after Joseph Addai left Sunday’s game with a hamstring injury. Team officials have not updated the severity of the injury heading into Sunday’s game at Cincinnati.
Evans, an undrafted free agent from Virginia Tech, was Indiana’s Mr. Football in 2006.
To make room on the roster, Indianapolis waived tackle Michael Toudouze. The Colts also waived defensive back Cornelius Brown from the injured reserve list and defensive tackle Kade Weston from the practice squad.
Bucs’ Jackson reinstated after long suspension
TAMPA, FLA. — Tampa Bay safety Tanard Jackson was reinstated to the NFL after being suspended more than a year for violating the league’s substance abuse policy.
The Buccaneers said that the fifth-year pro has been placed on the exempt/commissioner’s permission list, which means the Bucs will have up to two weeks to activate him to the 53-man roster.
Jackson was a fourth round draft pick in 2007 and started 32 consecutive games to begin his career. He was suspended for the first four games of the 2009 season for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy. He was disciplined again for a minimum of a year in September 2010.
Lions still perfect after defeating Bears
DETROIT — Matthew Stafford threw touchdown passes to Calvin Johnson and Brandon Pettigrew, and Jahvid Best’s 88-yard touchdown run later in the quarter gave the Detroit Lions a cushion in their 24-13 win over the Chicago Bears on Monday night.
The Lions (5-0) are undefeated through five games for the first time since 1956 - the year before their most recent NFL title.
The defending NFC North champion Bears (2-3) are off to their worst start since 2007. They are three games behind Detroit and defending Super Bowl champion Green Bay in the division.
Around the league
• BROWNS: Cleveland efensive end Marcus Benard is facing two charges after crashing his motorcycle following practice and breaking his hand. Benard has been charged with driving under suspension and reckless operation. He led the Browns in sacks last season and has played in all four of Cleveland’s games this season…. Cleveland practiced Monday without two starters: top cornerback Joe Haden (sprained knee) and Pro Bowl center Alex Mack (appendectomy).
• JAGUARS: Jacksonville waived veteran punter Matt Turk two days after his 22-yard punt set up Cincinnati’s winning touchdown. The Jaguars signed free agent Nick Harris to replace him. Harris, in his 11th season, has spent time with Denver, Cincinnati and Detroit.
• BEARS: Chicago waived safety Winston Venable and elevated safety Anthony Walters from the practice squad. Venable appeared in five games and was in on two tackles.
• BILLS: Buffalo signed receiver Tim Toone to its practice squad, adding depth to a banged-up position. Toone spent his rookie season last year on Detroit’s practice squad after being drafted in the seventh round.
• SUPER BOWL: NFL owners have awarded the 2015 Super Bowl to the Phoenix area. It will be the third time the area has hosted the game, which will be played at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. The league also announced the 2014 Super Bowl in the Meadowlands will be played Feb. 2. … The NFL will play regular-season games in Britain through 2016, with the number of games per year potentially increasing.
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