Broncos need to be more vigilant, CEO says
Denver Broncos president and CEO Joe Ellis called on players and staff to increase their vigilance amid the COVID-19 surge, days after his team was forced to play without an established quarterback because of the virus.
“As we enter the final month of this unprecedented season, we must do even more with the COVID-19 spike around the league and community,” said Ellis, who himself tested positive for the virus in early November. “I met with (GM) John Elway and (head coach) Vic Fangio virtually on Monday afternoon, and together we outlined what needs to be done to step it up.”
The Broncos lost 31-3 on Sunday to the New Orleans Saints with practice squad wide receiver Kendall Hinton at quarterback. Starter Drew Lock, backup Brett Rypien and practice squad member Blake Bortles were forced to quarantine after they were ruled to have had close contact with quarterback Jeff Driskel, who tested positive for the virus last Thursday, and were unavailable against the Saints.
The quarterbacks reportedly were not wearing masks as required when they were together, and Lock apologized for letting his guard down.
“We're all disappointed that it happened. It's not just Drew,” Fangio said Monday.
The Broncos (4-7) are scheduled to play the Chiefs (10-1) in Kansas City on Sunday night. Lock is expected to start.
Earlier, the NFL fined Fangio $100,000 and the Broncos $250,000 for failure to follow mask protocols on the sideline in September.