NFL teams have been forced to adjust on the fly throughout the season during the coronavirus pandemic, through scheduling changes and roster issues – but no team has faced a challenge like the Denver Broncos will in Week 12.
As reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Broncos will be without a quarterback on their roster for Sunday’s home game against the New Orleans Saints, as all four have been ruled ineligible in accordance with COVID-19 protocol.
On Thursday, the Broncos announced that backup Jeff Driskel would be added to the reserve/COVID-19 list. On Friday, ESPN reported that quarterbacks Drew Lock, Brett Rypien and practice squad quarterback Blake Bortles were pulled from practice and sent home, though each quarterback had tested negative.
All three quarterbacks will be forced to quarantine and will be unable to play in Week 12, according to Schefter – leaving the Broncos in an unprecedented situation.
All the QBs on the Broncos' roster are ineligible to play Sunday against the Saints after being deemed high-risk, close contacts, sources tell ESPN.
None were wearing masks at the time of exposure, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 28, 2020
Here's how Denver got wiped out at the QB position in a 72-hour span:
QB Jeff Driskel tested positive for COVID on Thursday.
Drew Lock, Brett Rypien and Blake Bortles did not wear masks, per a source, and were deemed high-risk close contacts today. They now are out Sunday.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 28, 2020
As every new signing needs to pass a series of tests before becoming eligible, the Broncos cannot add another quarterback to the roster as an emergency measure.
According to Broncos beat reporter Mike Klis, Denver could turn to RB Royce Freeman, or WR Kendall Hinton – who played as a quarterback in college – as a potential replacement.
All three Broncos QBs have been ruled out. One possible QB: Kendall Hinton. He's on Broncos practice squad as WR but he was a three-year starting QB at Wake Forest. (Won't be coach Rob Calabrese. League won't allow, I'm told).
— Mike Klis (@MikeKlis) November 28, 2020
Rookie WR Jerry Jeudy seems up to the challenge.
Guess ima have to get my Lamar Jackson on
— Jerry Jeudy⁴ (@jerryjeudy) November 28, 2020
