Lock’s positive test creates angst for Bridgewater

ARLINGTON, TEXAS» Not until five minutes before pre-game warm-ups Sunday did Broncos quarterback Teddy Bridgewater get the all-clear to start against the Dallas Cowboys because of COVID-19 protocols.

According to a league source, backup quarterback Drew Lock reported to the team he was a close contact with a person outside the organization who tested positive. Lock tested negative on Saturday, allowing him to fly with the team to Texas.

But Lock, who is vaccinated, had a test come back positive before the game and was deactivated for the Broncos’ 30-16 win.

Bridgewater, who is vaccinated or he would have been ineligible to play, said there was an “error” in his test result. “They tested me (Sunday) morning and there was an error so I had to wait for results to come back,” he said. “I didn’t have to get swabbed again.”

Bridgewater wore a surgical mask to his post-game news conference for the first time this year.

“We thought it might be Kendall Hinton, the sequel,” coach Vic Fangio said.

Last November, Lock and the rest of the Broncos’ quarterbacks were ruled ineligible to play against New Orleans for COVID-19 protocol violations. Hinton, a college quarterback-turned-nfl receiver, had to play quarterback.

Injuries pile up. The Broncos’ postgame injury list was lengthy and significant.

Offense: Right tackle Bobby Massie (ankle) and right guard Graham Glasgow (ankle) were injured in the first half and did not return. Glasgow’s leg was placed in an air cast and he was carted to the locker room. Tight end Albert Okwuegbunam (knee) returned to the game and receiver Tim Patrick (calf ) returned to the game.

Defense: Lineman Mctelvin Agim (knee) and cornerbacks Pat Surtain II (knee) and Ronald Darby (undisclosed) did not return to the game.

The Broncos started the game without nose tackle Mike Purcell (thumb), left tackle Garett Bolles (ankle), linebacker Malik Reed (hip), tight end Noah Fant (COVID-19 reserve list) and guard Netane Muti (COVID-19 reserve list).

Fuller gets game ball. Cornerback Kyle Fuller lost his spot in the starting lineup after the Week 5 Pittsburgh loss, playing only four snaps in Weeks 6-8. But the loss of Bryce Callahan (knee) thrust Fuller into a new role and he earned a game ball from Fangio on Sunday.

“Kyle hadn’t had a good season, hadn’t been playing much lately,” Fangio said. “He has never played nickel (against the slot receiver) in his entire career and we put him in there this week, gave him a crash course and he played nickel … some of the time. Then we had an injury (to Surtain) and he had to go to right corner. And then we had another injury (to Darby) and he had to go to left corner. He played three positions and I think played them well.”

Fangio also gave game balls to running back Javonte Williams and running backs coach Curtis Modkins.