Denver Broncos: What does Joe Flacco’s injury mean for Drew Lock?

The Denver Broncos are starting Brandon Allen this week with Joe Flacco injured. What does this all mean for rookie QB Drew Lock?

The Denver Broncos will be without quarterback Joe Flacco for the foreseeable future with a herniated disc. Head coach Vic Fangio said the team isn’t putting him on injured reserve right now, but that IR is eventually going to be an option.

With Drew Lock still ‘officially’ on injured reserve, Brandon Allen is getting the starting nod this week against the Cleveland Browns.

In eight games with the Broncos, Flacco threw six touchdowns, five interceptions, and fumbled six times as the Broncos went 2-6.

So what does his absence mean for Drew Lock? Let’s take a look at the immediate and possible impact down the road.

1. Lock is eligible to dress vs. Cleveland

There has been so much information floating around out there regarding when Lock can or cannot be activated to the 53-man roster.

There’s no truth to the idea that he has to practice for two weeks before dressing for an actual game.

Per NFL rules, Lock’s only requirement after being placed on IR prior to week one of the season was that he had to sit for eight weeks, and could play starting week nine if the Broncos wanted.

Those eight weeks, as of the end of the Colts game, have gone by.

There’s nothing else we need to know in that regard. Lock is eligible to play even without practicing. The Broncos do have the option to let him practice, test out his thumb, and give it three weeks before they officially activate him to the 53-man roster, but they are not obligated to use that window nor is Lock mandated to practice through it before he can play.

He could be one snap away from playing if the Broncos so choose.

2. Lock szn is coming sooner than later

Although the Broncos have been sort of slow-playing Drew Lock’s return to the field this season, this Flacco injury should mean that Lock’s time is coming sooner rather than later.

We don’t know what the team ultimately wants to do with Flacco, but this is essentially a lost season for the Broncos in terms of playoff contention. They have eight games to figure out a timeline for bringing Lock back and getting him some starts going into the 2020 offseason, and I see no reason why that can’t happen shortly after the bye.

3. Lock has to come off IR

In case there was any doubt about it, Lock now has to be one of the players to come off injured reserve, right?

The Broncos have four candidates — TE Jake Butt, RB Theo Riddick, WR Tim Patrick, and Lock — who could come off IR this season. There are cases to be made for all four but Lock’s status as a high draft pick at QB and this being a lost season makes this decision a no-brainer, at least in my mind.

The Broncos have to bring Lock off IR with Flacco hurt now.