Denver Broncos backup quarterback Drew Lock has been ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Dallas Cowboys due to COVID-19 protocols, the team announced Sunday morning.
With Lock unavailable, Brett Rypien will serve as the team’s backup behind starter Teddy Bridgewater in Dallas.
Lock isn’t the only Broncos player unavailable this week due to COVID-19 protocols. Denver tight end Noah Fant and backup guard Netane Muti are both on the Reserve/COVID-19 list. Fant went on the list earlier this week — Muti has been on the list since Oct 26.
Lock also missed a game last season because of COVID-19 protocol. All four of the Broncos’ quarterbacks were ruled ineligible to play in Week 12 last year after they were deemed close contacts to Jeff Driskel, who had tested positive for the coronavirus. Kendall Hinton, who was a practice squad wide receiver at the time, played as an emergency QB that week.
Lock and Denver’s three other QBs tried to skirt COVID protocols and manipulate their tracers last season, which is part of the reason why the NFL did not give the Broncos any grace and forced them to play without a QB against the New Orleans Saints in 2020 (they lost 31-3).
Lock is now unavailable for a game once again, but the details for this week’s unavailability are not yet known.
