Drew Lock appears ready to return for Broncos vs. Patriots
By John Buhler
The Denver Broncos expect Drew Lock to be their starting quarterback in Week 6.
After missing the last two games due to injury, Drew Lock should be starting on Sunday.
Lock had to leave Week 2’s loss vs. the Pittsburgh Steelers due to a right shoulder injury. The Denver Broncos lost their first three games of the season before finally getting into the win column in Week 4 vs. the awful New York Jets on Thursday Night Football.
An extra week off because of positive coronavirus tests may have Lock ready to start vs. the New England Patriots.
Broncos' QB Drew Lock, who has been sidelined since Week 2 with a shoulder injury, was a full participant at Wednesday's practice.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 14, 2020
If Drew Lock is going to play, he has to be ready vs. the New England Patriots.
With the Broncos at 1-3 on the year and not looking like a playoff team through the first quarter of the season, they are going to need their new “franchise quarterback” to play like a franchise quarterback on Sunday if he does end up playing. He may be 4-3 in his seven career starts, but if he doesn’t look sharp early vs. the Patriots, it might allow Brett Rypien to get back on the field.
Rypien quarterbacked the Broncos to their first win of the season over Gang Green two weeks ago. Yes, he had some issues with interceptions, but it was pretty clear Gregg Williams’ defense was headhunting him in the final frame of that primetime game.
Even though playing at Gillette Stadium as a visitor is never easy, it’s not like Tom Brady plays for the Evil Empire anymore. The reason this game was postponed was due to his successor Cam Newton and shutdown cornerback Stephon Gilmore testing positive for the coronavirus. Newton may be a former NFL MVP, but he’s not The GOAT. Lock must be ready to play if he’s going to play.
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By falling to 1-4, Denver will have to kiss its playoff dreams goodbye. The Broncos have two dominant teams in the AFC West ahead of them in the standings in the Kansas City Chiefs and the Las Vegas Raiders. We have to expect both of these rival teams getting into the expanded postseason field in the AFC in January. Lock needs to show us his the real deal on Sunday.
Denver doesn’t have to win, but Lock needs to reaffirm his starting status in a big way in Week 6.