ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Joe Flacco has a hernia disc in his neck, an injury that will cause the Broncos quarterback to miss their next game Sunday against the Cleveland Browns, and there is a good chance he could miss the rest of the season.
“We’ll reevaluate after the bye and see where he’s at,’’ said Broncos head coach Vic Fangio in his day-after-game press conference Monday at the team’s UCHealth Training Center headquarters.
Given the nature of Flacco's injury, and the team's 2-6 record with a rough schedule of opponents coming up after next week's bye, it would be a surprise if Flacco takes any more snaps this season.
Flacco was moving with a pronounced stiff neck after the Broncos’ 15-13 loss Sunday to the Indianapolis Colts. He completed 20 of 32 for 174 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions and afterwards expressed frustrations the play calling wasn't aggressive enough.
Brandon Allen, whom the Broncos claimed off waivers from the Los Angeles Rams prior to the start of the regular season, will start Sunday against Baker Mayfield and the Browns on Sunday at Empower Field at Mile High. Allen has been a backup or No. 3 quarterback for Jacksonville, the Los Angeles Rams and now the Broncos in his four NFL seasons but he has never taken a snap in a game.
He did play for the Rams in a preseason game against the Broncos on August 24 and completed 12 of 19 passes for 162 yards. The Broncos were impressed enough to bring in Allen to replace veteran Kevin Hogan as the No. 2 quarterback.
“I’ve seen him a lot on the scout team and when he’s been in there a little bit on offense. I think the guy has a little something to him and will devise a plan for him,’’ Fangio said.
Brett Rypien is expected to be promoted from the practice squad and become the Broncos' No. 2 quarterback, a source told 9News. The team is expected to stay with its plan to keep second-round rookie Drew Lock on injured reserve and not have him start practicing until after next week's bye. Lock would then have up to 21 days to practice before he is activated.
The Rypien promotion makes sense. Lock has yet to practice this season because of a thumb injury. Although he would be eligible to play against the Browns as he's served eight games on IR, Lock was deemed not ready by general manager John Elway last week. Lock still hasn't practiced so Flacco's injury doesn't make him any more ready.
Fangio did say Lock's thumb is healed, but Elway was referring to becoming NFL-game ready. Under the current plan, Lock would be on pace to play in the final two or three games of the season.
Fangio said Monday it’s possible Flacco would be placed on season-ending injured reserve.
"We're still gathering that information,'' Fangio said.
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