Lock questionable to practice after sustaining injury to ribs

Broncos quarterback Drew Lock is “questionable” to practice Wednesday after sustaining an injury to his ribs in Sunday’s 37- 12 loss at Las Vegas, coach Vic Fangio said.

“Like with many injuries, the next day is worse than the ( day of) competition,” Fangio said Monday. “He’s pretty sore today with the ribs, and we’ll see where he’s at on Wednesday.”

Fangio said Lock was in the process of getting X- rays on his ribs, at which time the staff will know more. The quarterback took two big hits in Sunday’s second quarter and the CBS cameras showed him in discomfort on the sideline.

The first hit was from the blindside by Raiders defensive end Arden Key, who was unblocked. On the Broncos’ next possession, center Lloyd Cushenberry lost his block on defensive end Clelin Ferrell, who hit Lock under the chin and was penalized for a personal foul.

Lock was sacked twice, knocked down five times by the

Raiders and threw a careerhigh four interceptions. After the two hits, he didn’t miss a snap.

“I don’t think anybody questions Drew’s toughness, desire and want- to,” Fangio said. “He said he felt fine and we didn’t see him favor it, but that’s the way it is with a lot of injuries. During the game, it doesn’t feel bad. The next day or two days later, the full extent of it can feel worse.”

Fangio said “there’s a chance” that Lock misses Denver’s Week 11 home game against Miami on Sunday due to the rib injury. And despite the quarterback’s struggles since returning from a shoulder injury he suffered in Week 2 — 10 interceptions in five games and an average rating of 60.44 — Fangio said Lock will continue to play if healthy.

“He’s at the point now where he’s watched a lot,” Fangio said. “Last year he was out for 11 weeks ( with a thumb injury), and did a good bit of watching then… He missed two games this year and got to do a lot of watching then. He’s at the point where he’s got to play to get through this funk that our entire team is going through, not just the offense, for him to improve and him to grow.”

Brett Rypien is the Broncos’ backup. Rypien made his NFL debut in the fourth quarter of the Week 3 loss to Tampa Bay and led Denver to a road win over the Jets the next week despite throwing three interceptions. The 24- year- old’s completed 67.5% of his passes this year, with two touchdowns, a 59.6 rating and four picks.

Jeff Driskel, who signed a two- year deal with Denver in the offseason, is the Broncos’ other quarterback on the roster. Fangio said the team will monitor Lock’s progress in practice throughout the week.

“It’s an injury that I think is day- to- day, and where a lot of improvements can be made,” Fangio said. “We’ll see what ( Lock) does with it… We definitely want Drew to have a good week of preparation so that he’s ready to play the game, so ( practice time) could enter into the equation as we go through the week.”

Broncos COVID updates. Fangio said defensive end Shelby Harris “probably won’t be able to play” Sunday against Miami after testing positive for coronavirus last week. That will be Harris’ third consecutive missed game due to COVID… Defensive coordinator Ed Donatell, who has been in the league’s COVID protocols since Nov. 1 and was unable to coach in the last three games, is not yet back at Dove Valley. Fangio said it “might be possible” Donatell returns to the team later in the week.