Lock healthy, but wait continues
With Joe Flacco sidelined indefinitely with a herniated disc in his neck, Broncos Country is screaming for rookie quarterback Drew Lock to play.
But the wait will continue. Even though Lock is eligible to come off injured reserve and play against Cleveland this Sunday, Denver is starting Brandon Allen instead, with Brett Rypien likely getting promoted from the practice squad as Allen’s backup.
Lock said on Tuesday his thumb is fully healed, but the Broncos want to get him actual practice time before being he’s elevated to the roster.
“Whenever they’re ready, I’ll be ready,” Lock said. “I’ve been in this league for nine weeks, and (the Broncos) know a lot more about this league than I do, and the timing and this whole process. I trust them, but they’ll get a confident guy whenever they call my number up.”
Reading the tea leaves of Lock toeing the company line, Denver’s second-round pick out of Missouri understands the opportunity to seize the starting quarterback job is right in front of him.
Allen was claimed off waivers Sept. 1 as a stop-gap backup in the wake of Lock’s thumb injury, while Rypien has been on the practice squad after being waived following the preseason. Like Lock, neither has ever played an NFL snap.
Hence, it’s a matter of timing for the Broncos to see if they have a quarterback of the future in Lock. He’ll resume practicing after Denver’s Week 10 bye, upon which the team has three weeks to activate him. That timeline projects for an early December debut, presuming the Broncos give Lock a chance amid a spiraling, last-place season.
“He hasn’t done anything in a huddle or a practice since the third preseason game (Aug 19) that he got hurt,” coach Vic Fangio said. “That’s a long time ago. We want to make sure he’s ready before we put him out there.”
During his rehabilitation, Lock spent time with the team’s virtual reality training program, usually going through every practice twice with the technology. That, in addition to “taking everything in” under the tutelage of Flacco, has Lock believing he’s prepared to salvage his “trying” rookie season.
“I hadn’t missed a game in my four years at Mizzou, but this was just a freak injury that I wasn’t able to fight through without possibly injuring myself further,” Lock said. “I had to figure things out, and there’s definitely been a little anxiety and antsiness to come back.”
Meanwhile, Rypien said the scout team reps he’s been getting against the Denver defense “have helped a lot.” He also noted his good relationship with Lock.
“We’ve been in similar roles throughout these first eight weeks, so we’ve been working together, watching the virtual reality for the reps that Joe’s getting, watching some (game) film, going over the game plan,” Rypien said. “It’s been good to have him in the room.”
Rypien, a former Boise State star, was signed as an undrafted free agent in the offseason and appeared in three preseason games for the Broncos while posting a 61.5 rating.
“I wouldn’t worry too much about Brett,” Allen said. “His preparation is top notch and although he’s young, he’s very smart. He’s obviously been here in the offseason and been in the offense so I think he’ll be ready to go.”