The Denver Broncos will not place quarterback Drew Lock (shoulder) on injured reserve. If he had gone on IR, Lock would have been eligible to return to the active roster after three weeks. Broncos coach Vic Fangio said Monday that the QB will be sidelined anywhere from 3-5 weeks.
“There’s nothing structurally wrong with his shoulder,” Fangio said on Sept. 21. “He’s just got a bad bruise there. When it’s your throwing shoulder, it’s going to take time to heal. It’s got to calm down, get his strength back to where he fully has it and he can operate at 100 percent.”
By not placing Lock on injured reserve, the Broncos are leaving open the possibility of the QB returning in fewer than three weeks.
Denver has been devasted by injuries this season. Lock joins a list of injured Broncos starters that includes running back Phillip Lindsay, outside linebacker Von Miller, wide receiver Courtland Sutton and cornerback A.J. Bouye, among others.
While Lock is sidelined, Jeff Driskel is set to start in his place. Denver is also expected to sign Blake Bortles to provide more depth at QB.
