Denver Broncos starting quarterback Joe Flacco aggravated a neck injury against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday and will not play against the Cleveland Browns in Week 9, coach Vic Fangio announced Monday.
With Flacco injured, the team plans to start third-year quarterback Brandon Allen this week. Allen served as Flacco’s backup for the first eight weeks of the season but is yet to play in a regular season NFL game.
The team has not yet decided who Allen’s backup will be on Sunday.
The two options are undrafted rookie Brett Rypien and second-round draft choice Drew Lock, who is yet to be activated from injured reserve (thumb). Once he is activated from IR, Lock will be eligible to play right away.
Rypien is currently on the practice squad. The Broncos would have to activate him to the 53-man roster for Rypien to be eligible to dress for Sunday’s game against the Browns.
Expect either Lock or Rypien to be activated in the coming days.
