ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — When the NFL announced on Sunday that Denver's Week 5 game against the Patriots had been postponed, the Broncos lost an opportunity to earn a win Monday that would push them to 2-3.
But when they play again in Week 6 — whether that's against the Dolphins as scheduled or against the Patriots as reported — they may gain their starting quarterback.
Head Coach Vic Fangio said Sunday that Drew Lock was "progressing well" from a shoulder injury that has kept him out since the Broncos' Week 2 game in Pittsburgh. And though he was listed as questionable for Monday's previously scheduled game in New England, Fangio indicated it was unlikely Lock would have started.
"I don't think he would've played if we had played tomorrow, although I do think in some ways he could have," Fangio said.
Fangio said Lock did not receive many first-team reps as he practiced for the first time since his injury ahead of Week 5. Brett Rypien, who won his first career start against the Jets, would have been the team's starter in Lock's absence.
Fangio said the Broncos will now evaluate Lock's progress over the next three days. The Broncos' players will be off Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, and Fangio said he would "get some more facts in hand" before deciding how the team's practices would be formatted during the rest of the week.
"We'll see how he progresses the next 72 hours, how much better he gets and go from there," Fangio said.
