Weeks after being eligible to come off the Broncos’ IR list, Drew Lock will return to the team’s active roster. Denver will activate its second-round pick in advance of its Week 13 game, James Palmer of NFL.com tweets.
The team officially made the move and cleared the roster spot by waiving rookie UDFA quarterback Brett Rypien, Mike Klis of 9News tweets. Rypien has served as Denver’s backup during the past three games. The Broncos intend to re-sign Rypien to their practice squad, should he clear waivers, Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic tweets.
The Broncos have not announced if they will start Lock against the Chargers, but they have given him approximately 75% of the reps in practice this week, Klis notes. Lock returned to practice before Week 11, and it would certainly benefit the Broncos to start their rookie soon given their current status.
Denver lost Joe Flacco to injury midway through the season and has given longtime backup/practice squad talent Brandon Allen the past three starts. While Allen played well considering his history against the Browns and Vikings, the Broncos posted their lowest total yardage figure since 1992 against the Bills in Week 12. Lock debuting would help the Broncos determine how dire their quarterback need still is going into the offseason.
Lock enjoyed an uneven preseason and was knocked out of the Broncos’ fourth exhibition game with a thumb injury. That malady delayed his season and left Flacco unchallenged for Denver’s starting job. With Flacco perhaps having played his final down in Denver, the Broncos may soon enter a fifth straight offseason without quarterback stability.
Lock may need to play extremely well to deter the Broncos from considering quarterbacks in the 2020 first round. The Kansas City, Mo., native did start four seasons at Missouri, however, and was considered a borderline first-rounder leading up to this year’s draft. The Broncos were linked to Lock early in this year’s pre-draft process. He may have a five-game audition starting Sunday.
Lock will need to show something or Elway will be asking Tebow and Cutler to report for workouts.
Should have asked Tebow before giving up anything for Flacco. My god, is Joe garbage.
What I don’t like is subtlety how positive coach Vangio has become about him. He went from “not showing the things” necessary to be QB in the league. 4 weeks later “not ruling him out”.
My guess is it’ll be a surprise to more than me if he’s “ready”.
Lock was my best quarterback out this year in the draft, so will see if I’m right again! Haskins and Murray are my bust which is accurate to say I’m right again
Congrats if you end up being right again. If so, you will win the ‘Nobody Cares’ Trophy.
Perhaps he isn’t aware that even a broken clock can give you the correct time twice a day.
The guy was a second round pick and hasn’t thrown a single regular season NFL pass. Five games to show you’re the guy or we’re done with you lol. He’d have to be completely dismal to even consider that