Denver Broncos nearing decision on starting quarterback
The Denver Broncos appear to be nearing a decision on who their starting quarterback will be to open the 2021 season. Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio reported that Broncos head coach Vic Fangio said that a decision could come as early as next week.
Drew Lock is more likely to start than Teddy Bridgewater
Injuries have impacted both quarterbacks in their NFL careers. Lock appeared in just five games as a rookie in 2019 before missing three games last season. Bridgewater has played in all 16 games just once in his career, and he played in just 15 games from 2017 to 2019. Now the two are fighting for the same job as the Broncos’ starting quarterback.
Bridgewater has played for Minnesota, New Orleans and Carolina so far in his career. He has thrown for 11,385 yards, 53 touchdowns and 36 interceptions with nine additional rushing touchdowns. Lock is coming off of an inconsistent 2020 season. He completed 57.3 percent of his passes with 2,933 yards, 16 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. He also ran for three touchdowns while fumbling four times.
Denver believes that Lock’s ceiling as a quarterback is higher, while Bridgewater has a higher floor, writes Florio.
“The Broncos presumably prefer to see Lock win the job, since he has a higher ceiling than Bridgewater,” Florio said. “The Broncos decided a couple years ago not to counter the Chiefs’ high-octane offense with a stifling defense, but to instead fight fire with firepower. That all points to Lock getting the first crack at the starting job, with Bridgewater providing a fallback option at a higher floor than Lock.”
A decision on Denver’s starter could be made soon
Lock got the start at quarterback in the Broncos’ first preseason game against Minnesota. He completed 5-of-7 pass attempts with 151 yards and two touchdowns, including an 80-yard rocket to KJ Hamler. Bridgewater completed 7 of his 8 passes for 74 yards and a touchdown.
The Broncos ran away with the game, defeating the Vikings 33-6. Florio mentioned that Fangio said “it’s possible” that a starting quarterback is named following Denver’s next preseason game against the Seattle Seahawks.
Bridgewater is set to start the contest against Seattle. He had a stronger season last year than Lock, throwing for 3,733 yards, 15 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Bridgewater is a former first-round pick, selected 32nd overall by the Vikings in 2014. Lock is former a second rounder as the 42nd overall pick by the Broncos in the 2019 draft. Denver acquired Bridgewater in the offseason in exchange for a sixth-round pick.