QB Mark Sanchez in saddle early at Denver Broncos workouts

With a black bandage on his left thumb Mark Sanchez took reps with the first-team offense in his initial full-team workout with the Denver Broncos on Tuesday.

Sanchez returned one week ahead of schedule to participate in the workout as part of the defending champion Broncos' organized team activities schedule.

Notably absent was Super Bowl 50 MVP Von Miller, who continues to steer clear of offseason workouts while the sides work on his contract.

Miller was not there but the change at quarterback was the focal point. Sanchez and first-round pick Paxton Lynch worked in 7-on-7 drills with plays scripted by head coach Gary Kubiak.

Sanchez was injured in a weight room mishap 11 days ago. He joined the Broncos via trade from the Philadelphia Eagles and is perceived as the likely starter ahead of Lynch, who ran a shotgun spread offense at Memphis and put up huge numbers against relatively modest competition.

They are vying for the vacant QB job in Denver with Peyton Manning retiring on the heels of his second Super Bowl ring and 40th birthday. His backup, Brock Osweiler, signed a four-year, $73 million deal in free agency to join the Houston Texans.

Miller was designated exclusive franchise player, preventing his movement in free agency, but the Broncos will need to do some salary-cap gymnastics to afford the type of contract Miller is seeking as one of the NFL's highest-paid defensive players.