Denver Broncos: Which players should come off IR when healthy?
Armchair GM time
Alright, let’s play the role of John Elway here.
Our team is 1-4 right now. We don’t know what the team is going to be by the time week nine rolls around, but let’s assume we’re either 3-5 or 4-4, hitting a stride and proving what many people thought, that the Broncos were better than an 0-4 team to start the year.
There’s no question in my mind that Drew Lock has to come back. First of all, he’s a much more talented option than Brandon Allen in case Joe Flacco gets down.
Second, we need to get him the practice reps. Even if they are limited, I want Lock spending as much time on task as he possibly can.
Third, we should be planning ways to get him on the field this season. With a very talented QB class coming in, we need to be able to make an educated decision with our top draft choice — do we need to take or trade up for a QB, or can we go with the best player available at another position of need?
Lock’s coming back if he’s recovered, end of story.
The other spot is up for debate, but the leader in the clubhouse for me is Theo Riddick.
We didn’t sign him to a one-year contract worth $2.5 million with some per-game bonuses for nothing. Riddick hurt his shoulder in preseason play and is probably already close to full strength right now.
With Phillip Lindsay and Royce Freeman, we have one of the best backfields in the game. If one of them goes down, Devontae Booker is a capable backup and we also could call up Khalfani Muhammad, but Riddick is a veteran player who is as good of a receiver as any running back in the NFL.
Heck, he might even be able to split out and play some slot receiver for us.
The idea of running two-back sets with Riddick and Lindsay, Lindsay and Freeman, or Riddick and Freeman with Andy Janovich mixing in as the lead-blocking fullback is enticing.
Next. Andy Janovich's impact on the running game. dark
I say Riddick comes back along with Lock, setting the Broncos up with an upgrade at the backup QB position and a nice weapon to utilize offensively for Flacco, who loves getting the ball to backs, or Lock, who will need that kind of presence out there in the short passing game from time to time.