Filed under: Broncos, AFC West
DENVER -- Tim Tebow gave the Denver Broncos struggling running game some new legs.The Broncos rookie quarterback, getting his first snaps since the season opener, ran six times for 23 yards and scored his first NFL touchdown in a 24-20 loss to the New York Jets on Sunday.
Tebow, along with the return of tailback Knowshon Moreno from a three-game absence due to a hamstring, contributed to a season-high 145-yards rushing for the Broncos. It was the first time in their six games that the Broncos, who entered with the league's least productive running attack, had more than 100 yards rushing.
"I thought Tim did a nice job of coming in and running the ball," said Broncos quarterback Kyle Orton. "It's a pretty good package for us and it makes teams prepare for some different stuff."
Certainly, Tebow, who became the NFL's first rookie quarterback to score a touchdown this season, caught the attention of Jets' defenders.
"I think they did a great job with him," said Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis. "The wildcat is in the NFL and Tim Tebow does a great job with that. I'm sure they're probably going to use more of him in the future."
Against the Jets, Tebow did see his most significant action to date, though he has yet to attempt a pass.
On his touchdown, Tebow, who did not address reporters after the game, took a snap in the shotgun formation and ran around right end for a 5-yard score that tied the game at 7-7 with 11:11 left in the second quarter.
Orton set up the score for his backup quarterback with a sideline pass to Jabar Gaffney, part of an 80-yard drive by the Broncos.
Earlier in the game, while also lined up in a shotgun formation, Tebow handed off to Correll Buckhalter for a 13-yard gain as part of a fake option play. Buckhalter took another handoff from Tebow on the next play for a 3-yard gain before Tebow left the field again and Orton returned to play quarterback after lining up as a wideout on the two plays with Tebow in the game.
He re-entered to run the ball several more times.
"That guy is a really good athlete," Broncos wide receiver Brandon Lloyd said of Tebow. "As many times as we can get him on the field and get him to be productive for the offense, that's great."
Tebow, who was active for the fifth time in six games as Orton's primary backup, last appeared in the Broncos' season opener at Jacksonville, his hometown.
Sunday's initial sequence with Tebow occurred during a first quarter drive set up by linebacker Jason Hunter's interception of Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez.
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