Las Vegas Review-Journal (Sunday)
QB Lock fires back at dance critics, keeps busting moves
Drew Lock insists he won’t let his guard down now that he has a signature comeback on his resume. What he promises to keep doing is letting his hair down.
The Broncos quarterback who’s known to spit lyrics on the sideline busted out dance moves after capping Denver’s 21-point Week 8 comeback against the Chargers with a 1-yard TD toss to K.J. Hamler as time expired.
That prompted Fox Sports Radio host Colin Cowherd, once one of Lock’s biggest fans, to lump him in with famous QB busts who were demonstrative.
“We have a new cool guy,” Cowherd sneered Tuesday on “The Herd.” “I’m not into Drew Lock. Cool dancing. Win more games, Cub Scout. Win more games.”
Lock, who is 6-3 in games he starts and finishes, laughed off the criticism Thursday when the Broncos practiced for the first time since that fourth-quarter rally.
“That person just might not be able to dance as well as I do,” Lock deadpanned. “No, I would be sour that way, too. We’ll see. Hopefully my dance moves get better in the public eye because I promise they’re not going to stop.”
Lock said he doesn’t choreograph his celebrations, and he’s surprised national media still are talking about his dance moves because they started back at Missouri.
“It brings the offense together. We all have a lot of fun doing it,” Lock said. “It brings a fun joy to talk about it, even go back afterward and watch it and be like, ‘What were you doing right there?’ I’m part of a younger generation of football that might have a little more fun as far as dancing goes.”
Lock wasn’t breaking out many moves before Week 8. After throwing a TD pass on the Broncos’ second drive in the opener against Tennessee two months ago, he sprained his right rotator cuff in Week 2 and missed several weeks.
He returned at New England last month and became the youngest quarterback — he turns 24 on Tuesday — to win at Gillette Stadium despite all six of Denver’s scoring drives ending in field goals.
His streak without a TD throw reached 45 drives Sunday before he threw a 9-yarder to tight end Albert Okwuegbunam, followed by a 40-yard TD toss to DaeSean Hamilton before his 1-yarder to Hamler.
■ Ravens: Linebackers Patrick Queen, L.J. Fort, Malik Harrison and Tyus Bowser, safety DeShon Elliott and cornerback Terrell Bonds were activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list. They had been identified as high-risk close contacts to cornerback Marlon Humphrey, who tested positive Monday. Also, wide receiver Dez Bryant was promoted from the practice squad.
■ Cowboys: Quarterback Garrett Gilbert will start Sunday. The 29-year-old, signed off Cleveland’s practice squad Oct. 12, will be making his first NFL start and first of any kind since playing for the Alliance of American Football’s Orlando Apollos in 2019. His six pass attempts will match the fewest by a nonrookie QB making his first start in franchise history.
■ Giants: Wide receiver Golden Tate won’t play Sunday in the aftermath of calling out quarterback Daniel Jones and the coaching staff for underutilizing him, coach Joe Judge said, noting he had a “long talk” with the 31-year-old.
■ Jets: Quarterback Sam Darnold (throwing shoulder) was downgraded to doubtful for Monday, with Joe Flacco expected to start in his place, coach Adam Gase said.
■ Lions: Quarterback Matthew Stafford was activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list.
■ Chiefs: Wide receiver Sammy Watkins (hamstring) was downgraded to out for Sunday.
■ Washington: Wide receiver Steven Sims (toe) was activated from injured reserve.