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The NFL Denver Broncos confirmed on Saturday night that starting quarterback Drew Lock, his replacement and the team’s practice squad signalman had all been ruled ineligible for Sunday’s game against the New Brunswick Saints. Orleans due to coronavirus concerns.
Broncos wide receiver Kendall Hinton, who played college quarterback for Wake Forest, will take on the job as an emergency substitute, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport wrote on Twitter, citing information from a source.
In addition to Lock, other ineligible players are Brett Rypien and practice squad veteran Blake Bortles. The three were considered close high-risk contacts with No.3 quarterback Jeff Driskel on Wednesday, the day before Driskel tested positive for COVID-19, a source told The Associated Press.
“With NFL / NFLPA protocols imposing a five-day quarantine period for high-risk close contacts, we have been informed by the league that Lock, Rypien and Bortles will not be eligible to participate in Sunday’s game against Nova Scotia. Orleans, “the Broncos wrote in a statement posted online.
“We will continue to work closely with the NFL whenever there is a positive case of COVID-19, including sharing all available information in a thorough and timely manner to keep our team safe.”
The news came as the league and other sports organizations, like the rest of the world, continued to fight the devastating virus, which has infected more than 62 million people worldwide and killed more than 1.4 million in the world, according to Johns Hopkins University.
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Meanwhile, the San Francisco 49ers were considering their options on Saturday night after new protocols in Santa Clara County, Calif., Where the team play home games, appeared to prevent them from hosting games at Levi’s. Stadium for several weeks, according to FOX 2 of the Bay Area.
The 49ers’ next two home games are scheduled for December 7 and December 13, the station reported, adding that the team had no immediate comment on their plans.
In the Broncos’ statement, the team wrote that Lock, Rypien and Bortles have all consistently tested negative for COVID-19, but the NFL had identified them as “close contacts at high risk of COVID-19”.
Denver Broncos quarterback Drew Lock throws a decisive touchdown pass against the Los Angeles Chargers in the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, November 1, 2020, in Denver. (Associated press)
All three immediately left the team’s practice facility after learning of the NFL’s decision, the team said.
The team’s statement did not mention Driskel.
A source speaking on condition of anonymity told the AP that the four quarterbacks apparently did not wear masks when together, as required by the league’s pandemic protocols.
Running back Royce Freeman was in preparation for the quarterback role with Hinton, the AP reported. Freeman was already considered an emergency quarterback, the AP reported.
News of the Broncos’ situation sparked an immediate backlash on social media, including from Noah Fant.
“Anyone know if Peyton Manning is busy tomorrow?” Fant wrote, referring to the former retired Broncos star. “Laughter but serious.”
“I’m not the type to complain,” Fant wrote in another post, “but @NFL you can’t send us into a match without QB. The most important position for an offense. We don’t even have not got a backup …. “
The Broncos also joked about the situation, asking the NBA’s Denver Nuggets if they could borrow a player.
The NFL cleared the Broncos to practice on Thanksgiving Day after Driskel tested positive for the virus and again on Friday after foot turner Deontae Spencer tested positive with two staff, according to the AP . But coach Vic Fangio decided to close the building on Friday and the team held remote meetings.
Lock, Rypien and Bortles were slacking off ahead of Saturday’s short training session when they were taken off the field and sent home.
They will have to quarantine themselves for several days and to return next week they will have to continue testing negative for COVID-19. The NFL will not allow any team to assemble until Wednesday, fearing the Thanksgiving holiday may have exposed players to infection.
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After learning about their dire situation as a quarterback, Fangio Broncos mastermind general manager John Elway and team chief executive Joe Ellis spoke to officials at the NFL headquarters.
The league’s contact tracing protocols include checking electronic contact devices, interviews, and a surveillance review, and the league has been busy investigating coronavirus cases across multiple teams.
Denver enters Sunday’s game 4-6 while the Saints are 8-2.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
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