ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The Broncos will begin their preparation for Saturday's season finale against the Chiefs expecting Drew Lock to start at quarterback, Head Coach Vic Fangio said Monday.
Teddy Bridgewater remains in the concussion protocol as he recovers from a concussion he suffered during Denver's Week 15 game against the Bengals, Fangio added.
"Right now, Teddy is still in the concussion protocol, so we don't really have any new information there," Fangio said. "So it'll be Drew going forward."
Lock's status could also be uncertain, however, as his shoulder heals from an injury suffered during Sunday's loss to the Chargers. He missed a series on offense in the first half as the training staff treated him in the locker room, but he returned to lead the offense for the remainder of the game. Afterward, Lock said he didn't think the injury affected his play much.
Fangio said Monday that he thinks Lock will be ready for Saturday, but noted that they'll track his progress throughout the week.
"The week will tell," Fangio said. "If we have to practice today, obviously he wouldn't practice. But we're hopeful that he'll be able to improve as the week goes and end up being the quarterback."
The Broncos will be without starting left guard Dalton Risner for the season finale, Fangio said. Risner left Sunday's game after four snaps after suffering an elbow injury and was unable to return to the game.
"Dalton will not make it this week," Fangio said. "He's got an elbow injury that won't allow him to play this week. He would miss a couple weeks."
In Risner's place, the Broncos inserted second-year player Netane Muti, who played 56 snaps on offense against the Chargers.
Denver also could see the return of many, if not all, of the 13 active-roster players who missed Sunday's game on the Reserve/COVID-19 list. That group included starters Jerry Jeudy, Bradley Chubb, Tim Patrick, Mike Purcell, Bobby Massie, Baron Browning and other key contributors.
"Some of them have a chance to be activated today," Fangio said. "Then there's a clump that could be activated tomorrow, then another clump that could be activated on Wednesday. But they have to get approval from the medical people first."
