Lock watch: Former Mizzou Tigers QB to start throwing again
Drew Lock still is weeks away from a return, but the former Mizzou Tigers quarterback has a strong chance to see the field in 2019.
Former Mizzou Tigers quarterback Drew Lock will start throwing again this week, according to reports.
Lock, who was injured during the middle of the preseason, was placed on injured reserve after the 53-man roster was announced to begin the season. The timing of the IR move made it so Lock could return during the middle of the regular season.
After three weeks, it looks like the Denver Broncos may have to turn to the rookie when he is healed.
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The Broncos are 0-3 and sit in an AFC West with the 3-0 Kansas City Chiefs. Starting QB Joe Flacco has completed 69 percent of his throws but only has 773 yards and two touchdowns while throwing two interceptions. The offense isn’t moving the football, and the Broncos average just 15.3 points per game so far this season.
Meanwhile, the New York Giants turned to their rookie quarterback in Week 3 and benched Eli Manning. That decision turned out well for rookie Daniel Jones in his first start of his career.
Washington plays on Monday Night Football against the Chicago Bears, and pretty soon that franchise will have to make a decision to go to its first-round pick in Dwayne Haskins. No. 1 overall pick Kyler Murray has started since Week 1.
That would leave Lock, the fourth quarterback taken in the 2019 NFL Draft, as the last of the QBs drafted with hopes of taking over for their franchise in Year 1. He was the only one drafted in the second round, but he was thought of as a first-round pick by many.
Lock can begin practicing in Week 7 and he can suit up in Week 9, which will be a game against the Cleveland Browns on Nov. 3.
Like most teams, it would be ideal for the rookie to sit the whole season. But like most teams with a young QB on the bench, it’s tough to not get him in there and see what happens.
It all depends on if the Broncos can turn things around over the next few weeks. John Elway and Vic Fangio can be a bit more patient knowing Lock isn’t returning before Week 9 anyway. But that patience will run low once Lock is eligible to return.