Lindsay won't cede starting job to Gordon: 'It's going to be a battle'

The Denver Broncos signed Melvin Gordon in free agency with the intention of pairing him with Phillip Lindsay to form a "one-two punch." But Lindsay has no intention of resigning himself to being option No. 2.

"When camp comes around, it's going to be a battle," Lindsay told Mike Klis of 9News. "I'm not just going to sit there and give somebody the job. They can. But I'm going to go out there and I'm going to battle."

Gordon may have a leg up on the competition, considering he's a two-time Pro Bowler who signed a two-year, $16-million deal. Lindsay is a former Pro Bowler in his own right, but he's scheduled to make just $750,000 in base salary in 2020 before becoming a restricted free agent in 2021.

The 5-foot-8 running back is used to playing the underdog role, however.

"I've heard this stuff my whole entire life. And it's never, ever panned out how everybody has wanted it to pan out," Lindsay said. "Until someone proves me wrong, I'm going to continue to do what I do."

Lindsay does have Gordon beat in a couple of areas. While Lindsay broke 1,000 yards in each of his two seasons, Gordon has only reached that plateau once in his five years. Lindsay also averaged 4.5 and 5.4 yards per carry in 2019 and 2018, respectively. Gordon has seasons of 3.5, 3.9, 3.9, 5.1, and 3.8 yards per carry.

Lindsay said Gordon is not his "enemy," but also left what could be viewed as a parting shot.

"At the end of the day, I don't need 20 carries to make 100 yards. I don't think I've ever had 20 carries," he said.

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