National Football League

Simms gets start for Broncos against Chargers

Published Nov. 22, 2009 9:32 p.m. ET

foxsports

Chris Simms is starting an NFL game for the first time since he was nearly killed in a game three years ago. The Denver Broncos' backup quarterback got to nod over hobbled starter Kyle Orton, whose sprained ankle kept him out of practice all week. Orton threw a few passes at Invesco Field this morning but after several minutes went back into the locker room. Orton is in uniform and not among the players that were inactive for the game against San Diego. Simms' last start was on Sept. 24, 2006, when he played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and was battered so badly by the Carolina Panthers that he needed emergency surgery to remove his spleen.