The Broncos rested Joe Flacco for the Hall of Fame Game, giving Kevin Hogan, Drew Lock and Brett Rypien opportunities to get live-action reps. Flacco will play against the Seahawks on Thursday, but probably only a series or two.
Hogan will get the No. 2 reps again but his playing time will also be limited. Denver plans to give Lock plenty of reps in Seattle.
“Joe is going to start and play some,” coach Vic Fangio said after practice Tuesday. “We’re going to bring in Kevin and he’ll play some. Drew will get a bit of that — a good bit of the rest of it — and Brett Rypien may or may not play in the game. I think it’ll be a little, a little and a lot.”
Lock, who was selected by the Broncos in the second round of April’s draft, completed 7 of his 11 passes in the Hall of Fame Game for 34 yards, posting a 68.0 passer rating. Fangio knows the young QB needs more playing time to improve his game.
“One thing you got to remember about him, he hardly has ever been under center in his life,” Fangio said. “He’s hardly ever had to call a play in his life — a formation and checks. Once he gets through that, I think the other stuff will come easier and quicker.
“He is learning a new offense, how an offense operates, and when he becomes more of quarterback in those regards and feels comfortable where it becomes second nature, the other stuff will start.”
With a strong showing against the Seahawks, Lock could place himself in position to jump Hogan on the QB depth chart. Thursday’s game will be a big opportunity for the Mizzou product to prove he’s ready to be a No. 2 QB in the NFL.
