DENVER — Drew Lock is the Broncos’ starting quarterback again, at least for this week.
Broncos head coach Vic Fangio offered an update Monday on his season-long starting quarterback, Teddy Bridgewater, who was released from a hospital Monday morning after his frightening head injury Sunday in the team’s 15-10 loss to Cincinnati.
“Concussion protocol. Probably highly unlikely he plays this week,” Fangio said.
People pray in their own way. As Bridgewater lay limp on the ground after his helmet slammed into the ground following an airborne blast he received from a Bengals defender, Fangio prayed in his way.
“Relieved that he’s doing well, Fangio said. “Said a quick, with my Catholic background, said a Hail Mary and Our Father for him during that time.”
Fangio added the team was not yet considering placing Bridgewater on injured reserve, a transaction that would end his season as there are three weeks left and the minimum IR stay is three weeks. So for now there remains the possibility Bridgewater returns to play either against the Chargers in two weeks or Chiefs on Jan. 9 at Empower Field at Mile High in the season finale.
But Lock will start Sunday, the day after Christmas, at Las Vegas against the Raiders.
Lock replaced Bridgewater in mid series with less than 6 minutes remaining in the third quarter and finished it with a 25-yard touchdown pass to Tim Patrick.
He threw another missile to tight end Albert Okwuegbunam for 24 yards on the next series. But Lock later lost a fumble, spoiled a goal-to-go chance and cost the Broncos a chance to rally from its 15-10 deficit.
A final-minute desperation drive went badly awry, and Lock finished 6 of 12 for 88 yards.
“Saw a couple good throws," Fangio said. "Couple others that were off target just a little bit. But hopefully with a week’s worth of practice, he’ll be much better prepared.”
Lock could use more help from receivers Jerry Jeudy, who had zero catches after he was not in sync with either quarterback against the Bengals, and Courtland Sutton, who had just two catches for 12 yards.
Sutton is in a seven-game skid of two catches or less. He had a clear drop that would have converted a third down on the Broncos’ opening series and one or two other difficult catches that he’s made in the past.
“Those are some catches he needs to come up, with and I know he will,” Fangio said. “He needs to experience some success. He needs to catch some balls, make some big plays, and I think that’s all he needs.”
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