The Los Angeles Rams needed a quarterback and they decided to raid the Denver Broncos for one.
Blake Bortles has spent most of this season on the Broncos’ practice squad, an unfamiliar place for the former first-round pick. But even with the Broncos having to use multiple quarterbacks this season, it’s been Jeff Driskel and Brett Rypien, not Bortles, that have gotten the call.
Bortles was also part of that embarrassing situation earlier this season when the team’s entire quarterback room was ruled out from participating in a game against the New Orleans Saints.
The Rams will be turning to John Wolford to make his first career start in Week 17 against the Arizona Cardinals after Jared Goff suffered a thumb injury last Sunday. That game has major playoff implications riding on it.
The Rams also have Bryce Perkins, an undrafted quarterback out of Virginia, on the roster. Bortles may be the No.3 quarterback for this game, but he should still get a chance to suit up.
Bortles does have familiarity with the Rams. He spent the 2019 season with them as Goff’s backup. Sean McVay likely has faith in him as a veteran to come in and help Wolford prepare for the all important game.
Bortles’ time in Denver will end very quietly. He never dressed for a game and was kept around mostly due to the world we currently live in with COVID. If the Broncos needed an emergency quarterback, he would have gotten the call, but it’s clear that the team feels more comfortable with Rypien or Driskel backing up Drew Lock.